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MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, along with a coalition of healthcare industry stakeholders, on Wednesday issued a consensus statement regarding the collaborative steps that will be taken to help ensure the delivery of responsible and effective patient care as it relates to the prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances. 

WASHINGTON — Retail industry sales — which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants — will increase 4.1% in 2014, up from the preliminary 3.7% growth seen in 2013, according to the National Retail Federation. The association’s 2014 economic forecast, released Thursday, calls for online sales to grow between 9% and 12%.

A number of factors contributed to NRF’s 2014 economic forecast, including:

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco on Thursday reported net sales of $8 billion for the four weeks ended Feb. 2, representing an increase of 6% percent from the similar four-week period last year. 

Comparable store sales across Costco's U.S. store base were up 5%.

For the 22 weeks ended Feb. 2, Costco reported net sales of $46.3 billion, representing a similar increase of 6% vs. the year-ago period. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In response to CVS Caremark's announcement to pull tobacco products out of its stores, Walgreens stated that the category has been under review at its stores, too.

Walgreens has been evaluating its tobacco line for “some time,” and said it “will continue to evaluate the choice of products our customers want, while also helping to educate them and providing smoking cessation products and alternatives that help reduce the demand for tobacco products,” noted Michael Polzin, Walgreens spokesperson.

SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Tyson Foods is adding a new line of breakfast items to its product offerings. Tyson Day Starts, a line of frozen breakfast sandwiches, aims to offer consumers protein-rich meals made with high-quality ingredients, the company said. Day Starts varieties will include biscuit sandwiches, breakfast flatbreads and wrapped omelets.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — In support of the health and well-being of its patients and customers, CVS Caremark announced on Wednesday that it will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at its more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy stores across the United States by Oct. 1, making CVS/pharmacy the first national pharmacy chain to take this step. It also will undertake a robust national smoking-cessation program that will launch in the spring.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare and Walgreens on Wednesday teamed up to launch Sponsorship to Quit, a free online quit-smoking program that smokers can personalize with customized tools and tips during their journey to quit. 

MINNEAPOLIS — John Mulligan, EVP and CFO of Target, said the retailer is deeply sorry for its late 2013 data security breach and is aware that consumer confidence in the company is shaken; his comments came during a Feb. 4 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

According to Reuters, Mulligan also said that Target discovered 25 registers infected with malware on Dec. 18, contradicting an earlier statement from the retailer that all malware had been removed by Dec. 15.