Financial News

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's comparable-store sales increased by 3.6% in March, while total drug store sales increased by 3.1%, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Front-end comps increased by 4.6%, while pharmacy comps increased by 3.2%. Total sales were nearly $2 billion, compared with $1.93 billion in March 2011.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion has launched its Hunger Has a Cure campaign to support Feeding America's network of local food banks. The two-week campaign, which allows customers to donate in $1 or $3 increments at the register, runs through April 17. Customers may also donate any other amount of their choice.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens posted March sales of $6 billion, a decrease of 4.3% compared with the same month in fiscal year 2011.

NEW YORK — Forest Labs has bought rights to a drug used for high blood pressure that it had marketed with a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, thus eliminating the need to pay future royalties.

Forest announced Monday that it had bought all U.S. and Canadian intellectual property related to Bystolic (nebivolol) for $357 million from Janssen Pharmaceutica NV on Friday.

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Prestige Brands Holdings on Monday announced that it has completed the purchase of the two remaining brands of the 17 brands it agreed to acquire from GlaxoSmithKline; the purchase of Debrox ear wax remover and Gly-Oxide oral rinse completes the transaction.

For all 17 brands, Prestige paid a total of $660 million in cash plus a customary post-closing inventory adjustment under the original terms of the agreements.

SALT LAKE CITY — A leading provider of immune support products has become part of Schiff Nutrition.

Schiff announced that it acquired Friday the Airborne brand GF Capital Private Equity Fund LP in an all-cash transaction valued at $150 million, subject to certain adjustments. The company said the acquisition positions Schiff as a leader in the immune support segment.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is set to launch its annual fundraising campaign designed to benefit an organization of 170 children's hospitals throughout North America.

Rite Aid said it will kick off its 18th annual Miracle Balloon campaign in support of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals this Sunday. Through May 19, customers who purchase a $1 Miracle Balloon at any Rite Aid will receive $7 in coupon offers good for a variety of items sold at Rite Aid.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Rising gas prices and a cautious consumer environment continues to benefit the dollar store, with Family Dollar being the latest example. The company reported that net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012, ended Feb. 25, increased 10.7% to $136.4 million, compared with net income of $123.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2011. Net income per diluted share for the quarter increased 17.3% to $1.15, compared with 98 cents for the same period last year.