RETAIL NEWS

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — URAC has reaccredited CVS Pharmacy in Community Pharmacy, the company announced Thursday. The accreditation is the result of the CVS Pharmacy demonstrating a commitment to quality care, improved processes and better patient outcomes, and encompasses all CVS Pharmacy, Longs Drugs and Navarro Discount Pharmacy locations.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Fresh off winning new private label business for military commissaries, SpartanNash noted that its robust own brands initiative is feeding an enthusiasm for its future earnings potential.

SpartanNash on Wednesday posted $1.9 billion in sales for the second-quarter ended July 15, representing an increase of 3.7%. The increase in net sales was driven by contributions from the Caito Foods Service acquisition and organic growth in the food distribution segment, the company stated.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid on Wednesday filed notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the companies would be withdrawing its initial deal to acquire 2,186 Rite Aid stores, and will refile that agreement by Friday, August 18.

That will reset the clock on the waiting period under the HSR Act with to Sept. 18, 2017, unless otherwise extended or terminated.

I never understood people who root against the hometown team. I once knew a New York Yankees fan that was pulling for the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series. (Are you kidding me — the FLIPPING Red Sox?!) I bet him $50 just on principal; what kind of demented Yankees fan could ever root for the Red Sox to beat another New York team? Surely, this is the kind of sick lunatic that the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the CIA and just about every federal and local law enforcement agency in the country should have on a watch list.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart reported better-than-expected results for its second quarter amid surging online sales and an increase in store traffic.

Walmart's total revenue for the period ended July 31 rose 2.3% to $123.36 billion for the quarter, better than analysts had expected. U.S. store visits increased 1.3% over the year-ago period.

Same-store sales for U.S. stores, excluding fuel, rose 1.7%. It was the discounter's 12th consecutive quarter of comparable sales gains. Sales rose 1.2% at Sam's Club, and 1.8% at Walmart.

Over the past 75 years, Lewis Drug has come to epitomize the best of regional drug store retailing. Based in Sioux Falls, S.D., the company has become deeply embedded in the life of many Upper Midwest communities, and the go-to resource for pharmacy and front-line healthcare services in dozens of towns scattered throughout eastern South Dakota, Minnesota and northwest Iowa. Its largest stores wield a remarkably wide assortment of products and generate in excess of $10 million annually.

CHICAGO — Category management firm Strategic Solutions International is bringing a new insights platform to beauty brands and retailers with its (K)NOW! Strategic Data Solutions. The web-based portal, which made its debut last month at CosmoProf USA in Las Vegas, can offer multi-channel beauty insights exclusively to its subscribers.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee on Friday announced it now offers a Begin for Diabetes lifestyle management program, in addition to its existing Begin and Begin 4 Kids programs. All three options are led by registered dietitians in Hy-Vee’s 244 stores across its eight-state region.