Top Retailers

CVS Pharmacy gets URAC Community Pharmacy reaccreditation
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.
More shoppers, digital growth give Walmart Q2 boost
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.

WBA and Rite Aid withdraw deal for 2,000-plus stores, to refile Friday

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.
Target bounces back in Q2

MINNEAPOLIS — Target came roaring back in its second quarter from a year-long sales slump amid evidence that its investments in online and store remodels are paying off. The discounter raised its outlook for the year.

Sales rose 1.6% to $16.43 billion in the quarter ended July 29, beating analysts' estimates of $16.30 billion. Same-store sales rose 1.3%, also more than analysts had expected. Comparable digital sales surged 32%.
CVS Pharmacy to acquire 20 Fagen Pharmacy locations

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Pharmacy will be acquiring 20 Fagen Pharmacy locations in northwest Indiana and northeast Illinois, the company announced Wednesday. Eight of the locations will be converted to CVS Pharmacy stores and 12 will be closed, with their files being transferred to nearby CVS Pharmacy locations.
CVS Health survey: 61% plan to get flu shot every year

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Coinciding with the availability of flu shots at CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations, CVS Health on Wednesday released data from its survey of Americans about flu prevention. The survey found that 61% plan to get a flu vaccine every year or this year, an increase of 2% from last year’s survey findings. And 67% say getting a flu shot is the best way to prevent against the fly.
Second class of PQA-CVS Health Foundation Scholars announced

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Pharmacy Quality Alliance and the CVS Health Foundation have announced the 2017-2018 PQA-CVS Health Foundation Scholars as the program enters its second year. The program is aimed at fostering student engagement in performance measurement and quality improvement.
Target brings experienced hands to food, beverage departments

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is bringing on talent from Walmart and General Mills to accelerate its food and beverage strategy.

Mark Kenny will join Target as VP divisional, meat and fresh prepared food where he will oversee the meat, seafood, deli, bakery and prepared food categories. Kenny joins Target from Walmart, where he most recently was the senior director of private brands, deli and bakery.
Target expands, tweaks Restock effort

MINNEAPOLIS — The delivery wars continue to heat up.

A day after Target announced the acquisition of technology transportation company Grand Junction, the discounter said it has expanded the test of its next-day delivery service of household essentials, Target Restock, to the Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver markets. Target's announcement came the same day that Amazon launched Instant Pickup, which offers a curated selection of daily essentials available for pickup in two minutes or less.
Walgreens creates health and wellness research depot with new website

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday announced the launch of its Center for Health & Wellbeing Research, a website that features more than 50 Walgreens outcomes studies completed over the past six years. Areas of research include access to care and patient experience, adherence and clinical outcomes, digital health and member engagement, health care costs, HIV and specialty pharmacy, vaccinations and more.