WALGREENS

LONDON — Alliance Boots on Wednesday announced its contract manufacturing business BCM will invest heavier into core competency categories, such as beauty and skin care, as it discontinues third-party manufacturer development in unnamed "unprofitable" categories. 

NEW YORK — The American Diabetes Association, partnering with Walgreens and Duane Reade, on Tuesday kicked off its 25th Annual American Diabetes Association Alert Day, a one-day "wake-up call" asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.   

Google is offering a service called Google Shopping Express, which would offer same-day delivery from brick-and-mortar stores in the San Francisco Bay Area to the Internet giant's employees. Target and several other retailers have been named as possible partners.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is opening its latest New York flagship store in the Empire State Building, the retail pharmacy chain said Friday.

The store, scheduled to open Saturday at 10 a.m., will include an enhanced pharmacy designed to encourage greater interaction between pharmacists and patients, a health guide to help customers find health-and-wellness products and healthcare services ranging from immunizations to health tests. An "Ask Your Pharmacist" desk, private consultation rooms and Express Rx kiosks are included as well.

Walgreens and Alliance Boots entered into a 10-year contract with wholesaler AmerisourceBergen on sourcing pharmaceuticals last week. But that's not all. Besides the long-term contract, Walgreens and Alliance Boots will have the option on a potential 23% equity stake in ABC in three years. 

KEARNEY, Neb. — In collaboration with Walgreens, the University of Nebraska Medical Center on Wednesday unveiled a new treatment model to help positively impact clinical outcomes for hypertension and Type 2 diabetes patients through a program made possible by a National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation grant. 

WASHINGTON — On Thursday morning, Walgreens opened the doors to its latest flagship location in the nation's capital, bringing to District of Columbia residents and commuters the kind of retail pharmacy theater already familiar with citizens of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens will no longer source branded prescription medicines directly from suppliers beginning in September, the Chicago-based retailer announced Tuesday as part of a significant partnership between Walgreens, Alliance Boots and AmerisourceBergen that includes Walgreens and Alliance Boots potentially taking a 7% stake in the Pennsylvania wholesaler. Walgreens will begin sourcing generic medicines from AmerisourceBergen beginning in the calendar year 2014.