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With the launch of Family Vitamin Center, CVS/pharmacy created a new health hub on CVS.com to help educate customers on the vitamins and supplements that can support their personal health goals. The site is designed to declutter the dietary supplement aisle with features like an interactive questionnaire and guidance tools that provide personalized supplement recommendations.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The board of directors of Walgreens on Thursday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 31.5 cents per share, a 14.5% increase over the year-ago dividend. 

The dividend is payable March 12, 2014, to shareholders of record on Feb. 18, 2014.

Walgreens has paid a dividend in 325 straight quarters (more than 81 years) and has raised its dividend for 38 consecutive years. Over the last five years, Walgreens annual dividend rate has increased from 45 cents per share to $1.26 per share, resulting in a compound annual growth rate of nearly 23%.

MINNEAPOLIS — While Save-A-Lot is still the jewel in the crown of Supervalu, the chain has committed to investing into its retail supermarket banners with a makeover for all of the banners, a review of the planograms within those banners and private label. 

WASHINGTON — A pharmacy professor and compounding pharmacy owner are candidates for president-elect of the American Pharmacists Association for 2015-2016, the group said.

The APhA said the candidates for the position are Virginia Commonwealth University School of Pharmacy professor and community pharmacy residency program director Jean-Venable Goode and Newport Beach, Calif.-based Westcliff Compounding Pharmacy owner Michael Pavlovich. Members will have the opportunity to meet the candidates at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Fla., in March.

A deal announced last month between CVS Caremark and Cardinal Health created a joint venture that the companies said would be the largest generic drug sourcing entity in the United States.

Each company will have a 50% stake in the joint venture, contributing its respective sourcing and supply chain expertise. The deal also included an extension of Cardinal Health’s existing pharmaceutical distribution agreement with CVS Caremark through June 2019.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores on Thursday announced that it has promoted Jason Reiser to the position of EVP - chief merchandising officer. Reiser will report to Howard Levine, chairman and CEO. 

The company also noted that president and COO Michael Bloom has left the company to pursue other interests. The company will conduct a search for a new president and COO. 

ISSAQUAH, Wash. – Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales increased by 6% in the month of December and the first few days of January compared with December 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

The Issaquah, Wash.-based company reported sales of $11.53 billion during the five weeks that ended Sunday, compared with $10.87 billion during the same period last year. Comps increased by 5% at the company's U.S. stores.

Administering high-touch, expensive and complex medications to patients intravenously in their homes — or in a setting other than a hospital — is essentially a large-scale bid to “reduce costs by transferring non-self-administered drugs to the most cost-effective and clinically appropriate site of care,” said pharmacist Michael Einodshofer, senior director of specialty strategy and innovation at Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy.