RETAIL NEWS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Thousands of general merchandise items have been added to Meijer’s store-to-door home delivery service in anticipation of the holiday season ahead. The latest additions feature the most in-demand toys along with wrapping paper, artificial trees and Christmas decorations. 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — FedEx and Walgreens on Monday announced that FedEx package pickup and drop-off services are now available at more than 7,500 Walgreens locations in all 50 U.S. states. The milestone comes 10 months after the companies announced a long-term alliance agreement to offer convenient access to FedEx pickup and drop off at thousands of Walgreens locations across the country.

ITASCA, Ill. — Albertsons’ Jewel-Osco banner is bringing a new service to its Chicago customers. The chain will roll e-commerce through its website on out on Nov. 7, allowing customers to shop online for groceries that they can pick up or have delivered.

“This gives people another option when shopping for groceries,” Jewel-Osco president Doug Cygan said. “The Jewel-Osco e-commerce department allows for the company to come full circle as we began delivering tea in 1899.”

Truth 6: Consumers must be at the heart of OTC

Our first five articles talked about understanding big systemic truths – market, economic, technological – as good starting points to create a compelling OTC product journey. But even those insights will be found wanting without also understanding the underlying consumer and cultural truths. OTC businesses and their products need to offer answers to problems and needs states that consumers actually want to have solved, not what they think needs to be solved.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. —  CVS Pharmacy is making a big convenience push for its patients. Starting early next year, the retail division of CVS Health will be offering nationwide next-day prescription delivery, and it will be bringing same-day delivery to patients in select cities, with Manhattan’s same-day service kicking off on Dec. 4.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has promoted two of its own financial executives to new positions. The company named Matt Schroeder senior vice president, chief accounting officer and treasurer, and named Brian Hoover group vice president and controller, effective immediately.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — As Florida’s Broward County sees an uptick in hepatitis A cases, CVS Health is encouraging patients in the area to get vaccinated. So far this year, the county has seen 34 cases of hepatitis A — an increase over the typical seven cases annually, according to the Florida Department of Health.

CVS Health said its 10 MinuteClinic locations in Broward County are stocked with the hepatitis A vaccine, and the vaccine is available at its 76 CVS Pharmacy locations in the county on a walk-in basis.

Costco Wholesale posted a 10.1% increase in revenue amid increases in sales traffic and a big increase in online sales.

Costco’s net sales rose 10.1% to $10.02 billion for the four weeks ended Oct. 29, from $9.11 billion during the similar period last year.

Total same-store sales increased 7.5%, ahead of the Street forecast, with a 7% increase in U.S., and a 9% rise in Canada. Other International comparable sales rose 8.2%. For the second consecutive month, comparable e-commerce sales rose 31%.