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Special Reports Archive

  • Health Mart’s Canning makes good on goal to help indies compete

    SAN FRANCISCO — For some guys, it’s just in their blood. That’s definitely the case for Tim Canning — you can say he was born into this business.


    Canning, 1-of-8 children of the late, great Fred Canning — who, as president and COO of Walgreens during the late ’70s and ’80s, led a major turnaround of the company — is no doubt making his father incredibly proud these days, as he leads McKesson’s 2,700-plus-strong Health Mart stores, the fastest-growing pharmacy franchise operation in America.


  • Giant Eagle’s HBW format takes flight under Heiser’s watchful eye

    PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle may be a regional player, but the company’s willingness to experiment with its pharmacy formats — including its latest HBW/pharmacy store-within-a-store concept — proves that it can shake things up.


    In fall 2009, Giant Eagle put into motion its health, beauty, wellness pilot tests — a new wellness format that helps bridge the prescription files of the pharmacy with the natural health-and-wellness opportunities across the front end.

  • Matherly finds extra space in Sam’s ‘Portfolio’ for health, wellness

    BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The Project 
Portfolio initiative at Sam’s Club may sound a lot like Walmart’s less-than-successful Project Impact undertaking, but the key distinction is that Sam’s variant of the strategic initiative has important ramifications for the health-and-wellness area. Overseeing those departments is Sam’s Club vet Todd Matherly, VP and divisional merchandise manager of health and wellness following a promotion last year.


  • Giancamilli brings ‘Healthy Living’ to Rexall stores, customers

    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — As CEO of Katz Group Canada and its flagship Rexall chain, Andy Giancamilli has spearheaded a transformation of the company’s approach to drug store retailing and health-and-wellness merchandising. That renewal has spawned a new Rexall prototype store and a new approach to customer segmentation.


  • Magnacca’s expertise warrants a close look at DR’s innovations

    NEW YORK — In recent years, Duane Reade has gone from simply being Manhattan’s homegrown pharmacy chain to a truly innovative retailer with unique product offerings and marketing concepts that even the biggest retailers can learn from. And there’s no doubt that Joe Magnacca has been instrumental in the chain’s turnaround.


  • Pugh’s customer-centric approach boosts Walgreens’ momentum

    DEERFIELD, Ill. — A veteran of Walmart and Tesco, Walgreens VP merchandising Bryan Pugh brought a more analytical and customer-targeted approach to front-end merchandising. His oft-stated mission: to oversee, in coordination with the company’s Customer Centric Retailing initiative and other renewal efforts, a more cost-effective and more compelling merchandising strategy.


  • Optimizing SKU lineup equals success with Curtis at Costco

    ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Vic Curtis has come a long way since he began working for Costco Wholesale in 1991 as a pharmacy manager. 


    Recently, he was promoted to SVP pharmacy and has seen action in prescription and OTC merchandising, pharmacy operations, mail-order and Internet-based pharmacy, and pharmacy benefit management services, as part of Costco’s team led by Charlie Burnett, the “dean” of Costco’s pharmacy/health and beauty business.

  • New exec Mac Naughton pursuing familiar strategy at Walmart

    BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Duncan Mac Naughton, recently promoted to chief merchandising officer for Walmart’s U.S. stores division, has an opportunity to be a hero at Walmart as the nation’s largest retailer looks to restore sales growth at its U.S. stores this year and beyond.


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