Personnel Updates
The Bartell Drug Company announced that it has appointed Steven Frestedt as its new VP Marketing.
Rite Aid promoted Ken Martindale to the new position of CEO Rite Aid Stores. The company also announced Jocelyn Konrad has been promoted to Exec VP Pharmacy, David Abelman will assume the newly created role of Exec VP Marketing and Tony Montini, currently Exec VP Merchandising, will become Exec VP Merchandising and Distribution.
Walgreens has named Kimberly R. Scardino as its new Senior VP, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. The company also announced Shannon Curtin, Group VP and GMM for beauty and personal care, will leave the company, effective Sept. 1. Effective Sept. 8, Lauren Brindley will assume the role of Group VP, GMM for beauty and personal care.
Mergers and Acquisitions
CVS Health completed its acquisition of Omnicare, the leading provider of pharmacy services to long term care facilities, for a total enterprise value of approximately $12.9 billion. The move provides CVS Health access to a new pharmacy dispensing channel, Larry Merlo, CVS Health president and CEO said when announcing the deal earlier this year, and creates new opportunities to capture seniors and chronic care patients.
Price Chopper Supermarkets announced that it has acquired the Montrose, PA-based Fairway Pharmacy. Until a new pharmacy is constructed inside Montrose’s Price Chopper location, operations will continue out of the acquired location. The Fairway team has joined Price Chopper, including owner Jerry Prusack, who will continue as the pharmacist at the acquired location.
Industry Insight
Sephora announced it will test a beauty subscription service, called Play! By Sephora, in Boston, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio, in September, with additional markets to be added in 2016. The box will cost $10 monthly, with products selected in line with a specific theme.
Real Estate
Bluemercury Inc. will open three new Washington-area stores this fall.
Technology News
Rite Aid announced that all of the company’s nearly 4,600 stores nationwide have begun accepting mobile payments, including Apple Pay and Google Wallet. The company will also accept Google’s forthcoming Android Pay.
Shoppers Drug Mart launched an e-commerce website called beautyBOUTIQUE.
