WALGREENS

Drug chains are editing existing product assortments to clear more space for up-and-coming brands that court back shoppers who may have migrated to specialty stores. Several categories are heating things up in the beauty aisles, especially Korean beauty. Kline research reveals the category is growing at a 30% annual clip, and chains are seeking the right items to introduce more shoppers to the innovative and effective Korean entries.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Thursday announced the addition of NYX Professional Makeup products to its cosmetics selection, marking the latest enhancement as part of Walgreens’ beauty differentiation program. NYX Professional Makeup products will be available in nearly 2,000 Walgreens stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico by this fall, the retailer noted.

DEERFIELD, Ill. – A recent Walgreens study of pharmacy patients enrolled in Medicare Prescription Drug Plans found that patients who were late to refill prescriptions and who received reminder calls from local Walgreens pharmacists demonstrated nearly 23% greater adherence within the first 14 days of the expected refill date. 

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — More than two-thirds of Americans shopped at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Dollar Tree and CVS, either online or in-store, according to a new index from The NPD Group.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens will be bolstering its beauty proposition with the addition of "Beauty Differentiation" formats across more than 1,000 additional stores this year, the company reported earlier this week. The move is being precipitated with the hiring of beauty consultants who add a personal customer service touch to the offering.

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Vitamin Shoppe on Thursday announced that its board of directors voted to expand the size of the board to 12 directors and appointed the YES Network's Tracy Dolgin and former Pier 1 Import chief executive Alex Smith as members of the board of directors effective April 4, 2017. 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — More than one prominent investor has recently approached Fred’s Pharmacy with the intention of investing money in the operator of 601 locations in 16 states, according to the New York Post.

The Post posits the cash infusion from one or more sources would help Fred’s pay for and successfully operate the 865 divested Rite Aid stores it pledged to purchase for $950 million, which is a likely a closing condition should the Federal Trade Commission approve the proposed $9.7 billion Walgreens Boots Alliance-Rite Aid merger.