RITE AID

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid brought the New Year in with a bang, recording monthly same-store sales increases across both the front end and back bench for the first time in almost two years.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Tuesday announced its partnership with BL Body, a collection of shape wear available exclusively in Rite Aid stores, on a sweepstakes with a first prize trip for two to the location of the reality program “The Biggest Loser.”

Rite Aid is taking sweepstake entries through Jan. 22 for the $4,000-grand prize. Second prize is a year's membership for two to the Biggest Loser Club online weight-loss program, a $479 value.

NEW YORK — Credit Suisse analysts on Monday projected strong front-end sales and improved pharmacy comparisons for December.

“Industry front-end sales growth will accelerate in December on easier comparisons and increased promotional activity,” Credit Suisse research analyst Edward Kelly noted. “Sales last year were negatively impacted by low levels of seasonal inventory (especially at Walgreens) and unusually soft flu activity after an early start to the season,” he added.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid last week sweetened the pot associated with its loyalty card.

Rite Aid customers who use their Wellness+ card between Dec. 28, 2010, and Jan. 22 will be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a dream vacation, fitness equipment, personal electronics and more as part of a new reward program created by Rite Aid called Resolution Rewards.

NEW YORK — Rite Aid stock is expected to make the biggest stock-price recovery in 2011, according to a poll of TheStreet readers.

According to the poll, published Thursday morning on TheStreet.com, 28.2% of voters believe the drug store will experience the largest rally of the most depressed stocks of 2010. This in spite of the fact that Rite Aid earlier this week restated year-end projections following an underperforming quarter.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Rite Aid is a glass-half-full/glass-half-empty kind of company. If your glass is half full, you’re looking at the sequential improvements in pharmacy margins and front-end comps, and the excitement around the chain’s still-new Wellness+ loyalty program. If your glass is half empty, you’re making note of the seven straight quarters of script declines and the fact that Rite Aid had to lower sales projections … again. Our glass is half full.

CHICAGO — Millennium Pharmacy Systems on Friday announced the appointment of Phil Keough as EVP and COO.

"Millennium's innovative and cost-effective medication management approach offers critically needed solutions to the long-term care market,” Keough said. “By eliminating drug waste, enhancing administrative processes and improving patient safety, Millennium is changing the face of pharmacy solutions in the marketplace.”

CAMP HILL, Pa. — What Rite Aid might wish for Christmas is accelerated results borne from its Wellness+ loyalty card program, because even as the chain lowered its guidance for fiscal 2011 sales, it’s that differentiated loyalty program that executives believe is going to buttress sales next year and beyond.