Personnel Updates:
H. D. Smith, one of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical wholesalers, named Timothy Booth to corporate VP and head of its home healthcare division.
McKesson announced that Brian Tyler has been appointed Exec VP Corporate Strategy and Business Development, effective immediately.
Financial Focus:
Walgreens reported fiscal 2012 sales $71.64 billion.
Industry Insight
Kroger Co. is placing self-use health screening kiosks in all of its 1,950 pharmacy locations. Kroger HealthCenter kiosks allow customers to measure blood pressure, weight, body composition, body mass index, color vision and the ability to upload blood glucose numbers and other biometric data. Kroger customers can create personal health record accounts, which can be accessed at Kroger.com. The grocer has been piloting the kiosks in about 275 pharmacy locations since January, and they are currently available in Cincinnati, Lexington and Denver. Most pharmacy locations will have the kiosks by early 2013.
Walgreens will close 76 USA Drug-affiliated stores by November as part of its acquisition of Stephen L. LaFrance Pharmacy. Walgreens announced the LaFrance acquisition in July and expects it to be finalized in mid-September.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Kinney Drugs wrapped up an acquisition of four independent pharmacies in central New York and Vermont. The regional drug chain now operates a total of 94 drug stores in upstate New York and Vermont with the addition of the new locations. Two of the acquired pharmacies were converted and remerchandised and will operate under the Kinney Drugs name, while the other two pharmacies were closed and their prescription files and inventory transferred to neighboring Kinney locations.
