RETAIL NEWS

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - As many as 16 United States Senators and 30 members of the House of Representatives recently wrote to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, urging the agency to finalize its proposed guidance on how Medicare prescription drug plan sponsors report pharmacy price concessions, often referred to as direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees, to provide more accurate information to beneficiaries, pharmacies and the federal government.

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Hamacher Resource Group will conduct a continuing education session titled“Becoming a Community Wellness Destination” at the McKesson ideaShare 2016 conference next week, the company announced Thursday.

CHICAGO - Most brands are missing the mark when it comes to capitalizing on a more in-depth relationship with their consumers, according to the inaugural Edelman Brand Relationship Index released Wednesday. The index, part of the Edelman Earned Brand 2016 study of 13,000 consumers in 13 countries, found the global average consumer-brand relationship score reaches just 38 out of a possible 100.

CINCINNATI - Kroger on Tuesday announced the retirement of Ralphs division president Donna Giordano, and the promotion of Valerie Jabbar to succeed her. Jabbar currently serves as VP merchandising for Ralphs.
Giordano will retire from the company after 44 years of service, effective July 23.

STELLARTON, N.S. -- Sobeys Inc. has named a former Home Depot executive as the Canadian retailer's chief merchandising officer.

Lyne Castonguay will oversee all aspects of Sobeys go-to-market strategy, with responsibility for category management, marketing, data insights, research, procurement, private label and merchandising as well as the company's digital strategy.

BOSTON – BV Investment Partners on Thursday announced the sale of ECRM, an integrated services, software and data provider serving consumer product manufacturers and retailers, to Snow Phipps Group.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Pharmacy Association last week announced the implementation of an expansive physician-authorized "standing order" regarding the dispensing of naloxone. Effective Aug. 1, the standing order will allow Texas pharmacists to dispense the fast-acting antidote for opioid overdose to patients.