Top Retailers

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross in response to the devastating Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda, that swept through the Philippines last week. These funds will be used to distribute relief items, repair and rebuild shelters, provide health care and give access to clean water and sanitation systems for those impacted by the storm.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has expanded its Beauty Concierge program in three metropolitan areas across the country, the mass-merchandise retailer said Wednesday.

The company said it implemented the program at 95 stores in New York and New Jersey, the San Francisco Bay Area and Dallas-Fort Worth. Stores are staffed with a beauty concierge, a specially trained, brand-agnostic assistant who answers customers' questions in the store and provides personalized, detailed and unbiased information about beauty and personal care products.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Diabetes Association on Tuesday announced that Walgreens has been named a National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association, in recognition of its commitment to support the mission and the association's movement to Stop Diabetes.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — A new study conducted by researchers at CVS Caremark and Brigham and Women's Hospital explored the impact of genetic testing on prescribing patterns for cardiovascular therapy and found that there is an opportunity to improve upon the information physicians and patients receive on the evolving body of evidence for pharmacogenomics.

PHOENIX — Theranos and Walgreens on Wednesday opened new Theranos Wellness Centers located at Walgreens stores in the Phoenix metropolitan area. This marks the next step in Theranos and Walgreens planned national rollout of Theranos Wellness Centers, and the first expansion of the new laboratory services outside of California. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's philanthropic arm is donating $50,000 for relief efforts in the Philippines in the wake of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.

The Rite Aid Foundation announced Wednesday that it would donate the money to the Red Cross for people and communities affected. The typhoon, which hit the Southeast Asian island nation Friday, left an estimated 582,000 homeless, according to government estimates cited by CNN, devastating communities like the city of Tacloban. Philippine president Benigno Aquino III told CNN that the death toll was likely to be around 2,500.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Wednesday announced today it was named the 2013 Retailer of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Wine Enthusiast selected Kroger Retailer of the Year because of the company's "dynamic growth, dedication to wine, ability to foresee trends and customer service," the editors stated. According to a profile of the grocer, Kroger surpassed $1 billion in wine sales in 2012 and is expected to post double-digit growth in 2013. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Forty-three year veteran Steve Lubin, Walgreens divisional VP and general manager marketing for non-mainland operations, announced his retirement, according to Walgreens spokesman Michael Polzin on Tuesday. 

Lubin joined the company in 1970 as a stock clerk in Chicago while attending college. He managed several Chicago-area stores before moving into Walgreens’ purchasing department in 1980. He was promoted to a divisional merchandise manager in 1988 and to general manager of marketing for Puerto Rico in 2004.