WALGREENS

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens in March expanded Joseph Magnacca’s role. As president of daily living products and solutions, Magnacca — the former Shoppers Drug Mart vet who as chief merchant of Duane Reade proved instrumental in the reinvention of the New York drug store chain — will oversee Walgreens’ marketing and merchandising operations, led by chief marketing officer Kim Feil and chief merchandising officer Bryan Pugh, but will report directly to president and CEO Greg Wasson.

DEERFIELD, Ill., and BELLEVUE, Wash. — Shortly after posting record second-quarter sales on Tuesday, Walgreens announced that it would "accelerate its online strategy" by acquiring e-retailer Drugstore.com for about $429 million, subject to customary conditions.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In celebration of Earth Day this weekend, Walgreens will turn off select interior lights and lighted exterior signage at 1,415 stores across the country for one hour on Saturday.

In New York, the Walgreens billboard in Times Square also will go dark, the drug store chain said.

NEW YORK — A new report released this week unveiled the top go-to markets for retailers that are looking to boost their national presence.

In the ChainLinks/Terranomics' 2011 U.S. national retail report, the healthiest retail market in the nation was Washington, D.C., followed by San Francisco; New York; Boston; San Diego; San Jose/South Bay, Calif.; Baltimore; Philadelphia; Seattle and Pittsburgh.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — With record second-quarter sales and earnings under its belt, a grasp on 20.1% of the retail prescription drug market and a sharpened focus on core assets, Walgreens' executives expressed optimism on future growth — despite such external challenges as a soft economy and continued pressure on Medicaid reimbursement — and reiterated the company's focus on core strategies.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens announced on Tuesday record sales and earnings for the second quarter as it celebrated a milestone of filling 1-in-every-5 retail prescriptions for the first time in the company's history.

Net earnings for the quarter were $739 million, or 80 cents per diluted share, compared with $669 million, or 68 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

NEW YORK — Following the recent sale of Walgreens' pharmacy benefit management business, Credit Suisse analysts said they are interested in the executive team's updated thinking on their healthcare strategy and plans for the $550 million in proceeds.

REDFORD, Mich. — Nature's Health Connection said its over-the-counter pain-relief cream has garnered record retail sales.

Sales for Australian Dream — a Food and Drug Administration-approved odorless, greaseless, dye-free and capsaicin-free cream — increased more than 145%, according to the company. Nature's Health Connection attributed the sales spike to a 30-second television commercial. 

Australian Dream is designed to treat minor aches and pains associated with osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as other muscle ailments.