RITE AID

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is marking American Heart Month with a campaign that offers blood-pressure screenings, online tools and hearth health guides for free, the company said Wednesday.

Through Feb. 29, customers can buy a paper red dress for $1 that they can sign, dedicate and pin to store walls to help promote awareness of women's heart health.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is stocking up on items related to Valentine's Day to help customers celebrate the holiday, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

NEW YORK — Jane Carter Solution has announced the newest addition to its line of all-natural hair care products — the Natural & Curly Hair Essentials kit.

The Jane Carter Solution Natural & Curly Hair Essentials kit is available at Target and Rite Aid. It retails for $19.95 (a $30 value) and contains the line’s six essentials:

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — As more of Walgreens' store base is transformed into its Wellness Experience format, the less it becomes an underdog in its hardline stance against Express Scripts. Perhaps that was why the former Indianapolis Colts strategist Tony Dungy — the first NFL coach to record a win against all 32 NFL teams — was on hand to announce the new store openings.

NEW YORK — A wide range of factors and "moving parts" will likely make 2012 a challenging year for pharmacy retailers as the economy, generic drugs and the dispute between Walgreens and Express Scripts figure prominently, analysts say.

Still, they say, various factors may serve to benefit drug stores and other retailers that operate pharmacies.

NEW YORK — A charity for 9/11 victims and their families and victims of terrorism worldwide got a big check from retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid at an event in New York's Grand Central Terminal Wednesday morning.

Rite Aid presented a $15,000 check to Tuesday's Children at its store in the train station, with Rite Aid regional VP Paul Perinetti and Tuesday's Children executive director Terry Sears in attendance. The money came from a two-day event in October in which the retailer delivered flu shots to commuters at the station.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has hired Wendy Barnes as group VP managed care, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Reporting to SVP pharmacy services Chris Hall, Barnes will be responsible for all aspects of managed care, including contracting; relationships with managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers and third-party payers; and developing new strategic partnerships.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales increased 3.6% in December 2011, compared with December 2010, the company said Thursday.

Front-end same-store sales increased by 0.7%, while pharmacy same-store sales increased by 5.2% and prescription count at comparable stores increased 3.2%. Total store sales increased by 3.3% to $2.6 billion, compared with December 2010's nearly $2.6 billion.