Top Retailers

Kroger taps ALDI executive to lead discount grocery division
CINCINNATI — Kroger on Wednesday named Liz Ferneding to Ruler division president, effective July 31. Ferneding succeeds Paul Bowen, who retired in May.

"Liz's extensive grocery retail experience in procurement, marketing, advertising, management and operations will be an asset to our Ruler associates, customers and community," stated Rodney McMullen, Kroger chairman and CEO. "We have a lot of respect for the Ruler format and the customer it serves. Liz's talent and insights will help us sharpen our value-centric, small-format store."
VUMC to operate 14 Tennessee retail clinics within Walgreens
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Walgreens and Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Wednesday announced that a subsidiary of VUMC will operate and provide all clinical services at 14 retail health clinics within Walgreens stores across middle Tennessee.

Online grocer adds 'Ask Peapod' as Amazon's latest Alexa skill

CHICAGO — Online grocer Peapod on Tuesday launched "Ask Peapod," its Alexa skill for hands-free, voice ordering that enables immediate, in-the-moment additions to shoppers' weekly grocery carts. Peapod sees voice ordering as the natural next step and is investing in more innovations designed for the connected shopper.
MinuteClinic offers workplace health services through new partnership

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health’s MinuteClinic on Tuesday announced that it had joined the Alere eScreen Occupational Health Network in a move that will allow employers to direct employees to MinuteClinic to complete occupational health screenings.
Fresh-food/fast-food franchise Freshii catapults into New York through Walgreens

TORONTO — Freshii on Monday announced the expansion of the brand into New York City under the Walgreens name.
Walgreens expands HIV PrEP medication protocol by 17 markets

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday announced that beginning July 13, providers at Walgreens Healthcare Clinic locations in 17 new markets will be able to prescribe PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), a medication protocol for people who don’t have HIV to help proactively protect against HIV infection. The new markets include Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus (Ohio), Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tucson, Washington D.C., and Wichita.
Meijer expands store-to-door delivery to 2.5 million Chicagoland shoppers

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer and Shipt announced Thursday they will offer a store-to-door service beginning July 13 to nearly 2.5 million households throughout the Chicagoland suburbs and Rockford. The home delivery service launches as part of an expansion across six states that has so far resulted in more than 250,000 deliveries this year.
Transformation on track: Fred’s remains optimistic after new Walgreens-Rite Aid deal

In the aftermath of the announcement that Walgreens would be purchasing more than 2,000 stores from Rite Aid rather than continuing with its initial plan to acquire the chain outright — which removed the need for Fred’s to purchase 855 Rite Aid stores and related assets — the Memphis-based retailer is unfazed.

For Fred’s CEO Mike Bloom, the potential to expand its store base was just one opportunity.
Costco’s same-store sales rise in June

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — The nation's largest wholesale club operator reported strong sales for the month of June, both domestically and globally.

Costco posted net sales of $12.17 billion for the five weeks ended July 2, 2017, up 5% from $11.33 billion during the year-ago period. Total same-store sales were up 6%.

In the U.S., same-store sales rose 6.5% in June. International same-store sales increased 6.2%. Canadian same-store sales rose 3.2%.
Walmart gets specialty pharmacy accreditation from URAC

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart on Thursday announced that it had received specialty pharmacy accreditation from URAC. The distinction means the company has met the accreditor’s standards for demonstrated quality care, improved processes and positive patient outcomes, Walmart said.