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WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Forging ahead on its longer-term goal of creating a national platform to support primary care, CVS Caremark plans to open up at least 150 new MinuteClinic locations this year and is now testing telehealth at more than two-dozen sites.

With a primary care physician shortage that is expected to reach 45,000 in 2020 and nearly half of patients indicating that they do not have a primary care physician, the role of MinuteClinic is no doubt becoming increasingly vital.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark released on Tuesday fourth-quarter results, which came in at the high end of expectations and helped produce a record year, but as expected, among the key topics of discussion during the conference call with analysts was the company’s recent decision to stop selling tobacco products in all of its stores by Oct. 1.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Supervalu on Monday announced it will host its first-ever national sales expo, Sales 4 All Seasons, this summer.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday announced it is extending through April 15 its program to provide medications to newly insured Americans enrolled under the Affordable Care Act, who have difficulty using their new insurance coverage because they haven't received a plan identification number yet from their insurer. Walgreens will continue to assist recently enrolled individuals by providing up to one month of a traditional, brand or generic medication at no upfront cost upon verification of eligibility.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA on Friday announced that Rick Herring, president of the Giant Carlisle Division, has made the decision to retire, effective Feb. 14.

Herring has had a successful career at Ahold companies for nearly 25 years and has made many contributions to the Ahold organization.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation calculated that retail employment was down 21,600 jobs in January 2014, yet up 230,000 jobs year-over-year. December retail employment figures were revised up to a gain of 57,000 jobs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation report showed that January total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 113,000, with the unemployment rate at 6.6% and the labor force participation rate at 63%.

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