Top Retailers

Seasoned Albertsons vet takes the helm at Safeway division
WASHINGTON — Jim Perkins, Albertsons EVP retail operations and special projects and president of its Acme stores divsion, has assumed command of the Safeway Eastern division as well, according to a report in the Washington Business Journal earlier this week.

Former Safeway president Dan Valenzuela "left the company to pursue other opportunities," the Journal reported.
Walmart looks into retail’s future with Store No. 8 innovation gala
BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Virtual reality was the star of Walmart’s Store No. 8 inaugural innovation gala — an event that exhibited how the technology will shape retail shopping.

Store No. 8, Walmart’s technology incubator focused on ideas that will transform the future of commerce, held its first innovation gala on Wednesday. Store No. 8 works with startups that specialize in areas that include robotics, virtual and augmented reality, machine learning and artificial intelligence. This event however, gave put the spotlight on the value of VR.

Kroger names two new division presidents

CINCINNATI — Kroger earlier this week named Pam Matthews president of the company's central division and Suzy Monford as president of the QFC division.

Monford replaces Matthews, formerly president of Kroger's QFC division, succeeds Katie Wolfram, who is retiring. Monford is assuming the role vacated by Matthew.
Natural beauty in sync with healthier lifestyle trend

In just the past few months, Walmart announced plans for a naturally positioned color cosmetics line called Found. CVS has pumped in more than 2,000 natural, organic and naturally inspired items, such as Organic Doctor and Burt’s Bees cosmetics into 3,000 doors. And earlier this year, Target substantially built out its natural assortment and dubbed natural skin care as a business contributing double-digit percentage sales lifts.
Walgreens expands retail pharmacy, omnichannel technology teams

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday announced with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel that it will bring approximately 300 technology positions to its current downtown Chicago office in the Sullivan Center to establish a new technology center of excellence.

Walgreens is currently building out its space in the Sullivan Center to host the new center of excellence, which will host much of the company’s retail pharmacy technology team along with the digital, mobile and e-commerce technology teams that currently work there.
Walmart exec encourages the industry to seek the bigger picture

Walmart’s Shawn Townzen told a group of sales and marketing executives that his company’s buying teams are focusing on the ‘bigger picture” as the chain seeks to maintain momentum in an increasingly-complex retail arena.

Speaking in Bentonville, Ark. at a Mack Elevation thought leadership conference, Townzen, who is a VP and DMM, personal care, said that industry executives must align with Walmart’s philosophies and be ready to change on the go as the chain’s blueprint evolves.
CVS Health to support Anthem’s newly launched IngenioRx PBM

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Health benefits company Anthem’s new pharmacy benefits manager IngenioRx will be getting an assist from CVS Health. The companies inked a five-year agreement that will see CVS Health’s Caremark PBM managing such services as claims processing and prescription fulfillment services for IngenioRx.
Feeding frenzy: As Amazon and Walmart get hungrier, the industry wonders what’s next

Can other retailers find a comfortable — and profitable — niche in the marketplace, while Amazon.com and Walmart go toe-to-toe in their seemingly endless battle for retail supremacy?

The answer will not only define retail for the next generation or two, but also determine who will survive what many call the “new normal” in what is becoming a more complex and risky arena.
Rite Aid unveils latest Medicare plan selection tool for open enrollment period

CAMP HILL, Pa. — As the annual Medicare Part D enrollment period gets underway, from now through Dec. 7, 2017, Rite Aid pharmacies nationwide are providing senior customers with free resources to help select the right prescription drug plan or update their existing coverage for 2018.
Supervalu expands wholesale reach through Associated Grocers of Florida acquisition

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Wednesday announced its acquisition of Associated Grocers of Florida in a transaction valued at approximately $180 million.