Personnel Updates:
Kinney Drugs Inc. said it has promoted Jim Spencer from his current position as VP Retail Operations to COO, effective immediately.
GNC Holdings elected company president and CEO Joseph Fortunato to serve as Chairman. The board also has appointed Michael Hines to serve as lead independent Director.
McKesson announced that Randy Heiser was named Director of Retail National Accounts of Six Sigma.
Shopko said Nancy Altman has joined the retailer’s executive team as Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer. Altman was Ulta Beauty’s former VP Marketing.
 
The Vitamin Shoppe announced that Stephen Bontempo has become VP e-commerce for the Vitamin Shoppe. He will report to Chief Marketing Officer Lou Weiss.
Industry Insight:
Three Kroger stores in the Dayton, Ohio, market will get a health clinic by The Little Clinic. The clinics will be staffed by nurse practitioners, who will diagnose and treat common illnesses, as well as vaccinate and conduct sports physicals and health screenings.
The Little Clinic announced the opening of two convenient care clinics within Kroger in the Atlanta area.
Walgreens plans to invest $75 million to expand and renovate its offices in a deal that will give the company $47 million in state tax credits for retaining 1,500 existing jobs. The 500 new jobs are corporate positions focusing on Walgreen’s high-growth divisions, including online (walgreens.com), pharmacy and health and wellness. The company will expand and renovate its Deerfield headquarters and surrounding offices to make it easier for employees to travel among the buildings.
Mergers and Acquisitions:

Paragon Pharmacies shareholders approved the $73.5 million (Canadian) sale of the company to Shoppers Drug Mart. Under the deal, announced in May, Shoppers will acquire Paragon’s 19 retail pharmacies and three central fill pharmacies in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba.


Real Estate:

Bartell Drugs will move its corporate headquarters in October 2012 from an industrial section of South Seattle to a new corporate center in West Seattle.

A Phoenix Walgreens is being renovated into what could be the first Walgreens concept store in Arizona. After the remodeling, the store is expected to offer a selection of fresh food items, as well as an expanded pharmacy section with new features.