Personnel Updates:
CVS Caremark appointed Helena Foulkes as President of CVS/pharmacy, effective 1-1-2014. She succeeds Mark Cosby, who is stepping down on Dec. 31. Foulkes, has been with the company for more than 20 years, most recently serving as chief health strategy and marketing officer, responsible for corporate strategy and enterprise marketing, government relations and communications.
Fruth Pharmacy has promoted Director of Pharmacy Administration and Procurement Tim Weber to VP Pharmacy Division.
Rite Aid has promoted Karen Staniforth, VP Pharmacy for the chain’s mid-Atlantic division, to Group VP Pharmacy Initiatives and Clinical Services.
Shopko appointed Peter McMahon to CEO. Mr. McMahon was the former COO of Canadian grocery chain Loblaws and was responsible for its supply chain, information technology, human resources, labor relations, merchandising, store operations and loss-prevention functions. Before Loblaws, he served in various positions at Walmart in Germany and Japan and Tesco in central Europe. McMahon will replace COO Mike Bettiga, who was appointed as interim CEO in October 2012 after the departure of Paul Jones.
Industry Insight:
Bartell Drugs is partnering with Group Health Cooperative to open retail clinics in three stores, two in Seattle and one in Bellevue, WA. The “CareClinics,” staffed by Group Health Cooperative professionals, will open in mid-January and early March 2014. “The CareClinics reflect our shared vision and commitment to customer service, innovation, improving health and wellness and community collaboration,” stated chairman and CEO George D. Bartell.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Giant Eagle acquired Cleveland OH-based Rx21 Specialty Pharmacy, a move that will allow the retailer to provide services to hepatitis C and organ transplant patients. “We greatly value the expertise gained with the new acquisition of Rx21, particularly at a time when two significant new Hepatitis C treatments are becoming available,” stated Brett Merrell, senior vice president of health and wellness at Giant Eagle.
Real Estate:
Rite Aid and GNC have extended their long-standing retai partnership through 2019 and believe there is opportunity for at least 300 new store-within-a-store locations over the next five years.
Green Initiatives:
Walgreens has opened what it calls the nation’s first net zero energy retail store in Evanston, IL. Through a combination of 850 solar panels, two wind turbines, and a geothermal system buried deep below the ground, engineers expect the new store to produce equal or greater energy than it consumes. In addition to the above specifications, the new store plans to generate electricity while also reducing its consumption by using LED lighting and daylight harvesting, energy efficient building materials and carbon dioxide refrigerant for heating, cooling and refrigeration equipment. 15 Walgreens distribution centers have already achieved ‘net zero’ waste, meaning recycling revenues exceed waste expenses.