RETAIL NEWS

There are definitely several themes playing out across Drug Store News’ top 10 list of breakthrough brands, defined by those brands that have contributed the most impactful growth over an annualized period, in this case for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 2 across total U.S. multi-outlets, according to IRI.

(To view the full OTC Trend Report, click here.)

Beer is still America’s No. 1 alcoholic beverage, but retail experts say that U.S. consumers are buying less of it as they turn to other alcohol types, such as hard soda, cider and wine.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

WASHINGTON - A study published online earlier this week in the Annals of Emergency Medicine reported that retail clinics opened near emergency departments had little effect on rates of low-acuity visits to them. And an accompanying editorial suggested that the primary effect of opening retail clinics is to increase health care use, not substitute for emergency department visits

Today’s diabetes patients represent a coveted consumer base for retail pharmacy no matter how you characterize that diabetes spend. For example, consumers with diabetes spend 35% more on OTC products than the average consumer, noted Jeff Gregori, group VP consumer and shopper analytics for Nielsen, during a presentation at the 2016 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo.

More and more, meter manufacturers today are differentiating their offerings not by the traditional micrometers of blood necessary for a viable glucose reading or the value inherent in the cost of test strips, but in the accompanying adherence app or other technologies that will help diabetes patients better navigate their disease states.

(To view the full Diabetes Report, click here.)

DEERFIELD, Ill. —  One day before Walgreens Boots Alliance severed its relationship with the blood-testing laboratory Theranos in June 2016, Theranos acknowledged to Walgreens executives that more than 10% of the test reports —  totaling 31,000 test reports altogether —  that were provided to Walgreens customers who used Theranos' services had to be voided.

Sam’s Club last month hosted a health screening day specifically catering to the health needs of the women shopping the store with a “Support Her Health” screening offering. “Women often prioritize their families’ needs and work responsibilities over their own health and wellness, but it’s important to ensure regular health checkups don’t fall off the to-do list,” said Tara Raddohl, senior director of corporate communications at Sam’s Club.

President Donald Trump — nobody saw that coming.

Except maybe one man Drug Store News interviewed for our January 2011 cover story: Stewart “Stewie Rah-Rah” Rahr, the freewheeling billionaire-philanthropist and former owner/founder of Kinray, the largest privately-held drug distribution company at the time he sold it to Cardinal Health for some $1.3 billion.