Top Retailers

MINNEAPOLIS — First-quarter earnings at Target exceeded a profit forecast the company increased last month after a strong start to the quarter.

Sales increased 6.1% to $16.5 billion and same-store sales advanced 5.3%. The sales momentum, combined with rigid expense control, enabled the company to report first-quarter earnings per share of $1.04, which exceeded a guidance range that had been increased to 96 cents to $1.02 from 88 cents to 98 cents in early April, following better-than-expected same-store sales during the first two months of the quarter.

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons LLC has announced that it is making a $56,000 donation to the Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts in the South and Midwest, following the series of spring tornadoes that impacted the area.

The campaign, which began on April 4 and concluded on April 30, allowed customers to select a $1, $3 or $5 donation coupon while paying for their groceries.

At first blush, there appears to be nothing special about Dollar General’s first Southern California store in the suburb of Montclair. It occupies about 7,500 sq. ft. of space in an aging strip center, and a small banner hung on the exterior beckons to passing motorists and pedestrians, “Now Open.” Inside, more signs explain the bare-bones merchandising of familiar brands to shoppers unfamiliar with the Dollar General value proposition.

Medication nonadherence costs the U.S. healthcare system about $290 billion per year, according to New England Healthcare Institute. That big and scary number — the kind whose sheer enormity can make one’s eyes glaze over — is now even bigger.


WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has aggressively set its sights on enhancing medication adherence, and the initiatives are paying off as the company estimates that its PBM clients saved nearly $2.4 billion in 2011 because of improved medication adherence for chronic conditions, according to findings of its annual Insights Report.

The report, released on Wednesday, reviews drug trend and highlights key issues in pharmacy care. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has closed an offering of new debt from which it plans to generate funding for a buyback of older debt, the retailer said Tuesday.

Rite Aid announced the closing of its offering of $421 million in senior notes with a 9.25% interest rate and due in 2020. The company plans to use money from the offering to buy back 9.375% senior notes due 2015. As of Monday night, $296.3 million worth of the old notes had been put up for sale.

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — A weight management products and services provider is bringing its items to retail.

Nutrisystem announced the retail debut of its Nutrisystem Everyday product line at Kroger. Available in bars, smoothies, bakery and breakfast items, each product delivers low fat and calories, and is a good source of fiber and protein, the company said.

DEERFIELD Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday infused greater value into its Prescription Savings Club program, which now offers discounts on more than 8,000 brand-name and generic prescriptions, thanks to the inclusion of more than 700 "value-priced" generics, which retail as low as $12 for a 90-day supply.