WALGREENS

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The Lone Star State remains the chief hold out with regard to extending a flu season that's been winding down. According to the latest Walgreens Flu Index, four of the top 10 markets still experiencing high levels of flu activity are in Texas, including three of the top five markets.

For the week of March 12, the top 10 markets for flu activity were:

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance could be close to an agreement to sell more assets, including additional stores, distribution centers, software and personnel, to Fred’s Pharmacy in an effort to win Federal Trade Commission approval of its proposed agreement to acquire Rite Aid, according to Bloomberg, citing sources close to the talks.

NEW YORK — WestLab earlier this week announced the launch of its first dedicated beauty collection, Supersalt, exclusively through Walgreens on March 17. The Supersalt collection, comprised of three essential-oil infused bathing salts, is fortified with blends of organic plant and fruit extracts, oils, antioxidants and minerals.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance on Friday named two executives to the chief marketing officer and chief merchandising officer positions, promoting Adam Holyk and Joe Hartsig, respectively, to those roles.

Both will assume their new roles as of April 1 and report to Alex Gourlay, co-COO for Walgreens Boots Alliance.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Kmart earned the top ranking — a score of 84 out of a possible 100 — in the health and wellness/pharmacy category in the recently released American Customer Satisfaction Index “Retail Report 2016.” Kmart’s ranking rose from a score of 76 the prior year, good for a 10.5% year-over-year increase.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The incidence of flu is beginning to scale back as evidenced by Walgreens' latest Walgreens Flu Index heat map, which shows the West Coast and Northeast United States are back in the "green" in terms of flu incidence.

For the week of March 5, the top 10 markets still showing signs of flu activity were:

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance could soon declare it has “certified compliance” in its Rite Aid merger, forcing the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to vote on the proposed transaction in 30 days, reported The New York Post.

“The declaration would mean that, in Walgreens’s opinion, it has given regulators substantially all the information they need to make a decision,” the newspaper wrote.