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CINCINNATI — Kroger on Tuesday named Jay Cummins president of the Smith's Food and Drug Stores division and Joe Fey president of Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division.

ZAANDAM, the Netherlands — Ahold's shareholders on Tuesday approved the company's proposal to return €1 billion (US$1.4 billion) to shareholders by way of a capital repayment and reverse stock split.

 Shareholders voted at an extraordinary general meeting held at Ahold's headquarters. The meeting was attended by 65 shareholders, representing approximately 657 million votes.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Digital coupon use is at an all-time high with more than 2 million Meijer shoppers now subscribed to the free mPerks program, and Meijer has made significant investments to make digital savings easier for its customers, the supermarket retailer announced Tuesday.  

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer now has free Wi-Fi capability in all its stores, making it easier for customers to access their mPerks accounts and the Meijer mobile app, freeing up their smartphone data plans for other uses.

CINCINNATI — Kroger and Harris Teeter Supermarkets on Friday announced that the Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 with respect to the pending merger transaction between the two companies.

The early termination of the HSR waiting period satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the pending merger, which remains subject to other customary closing conditions. Both companies expect the transaction to be completed before the end of January.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Hershey on Wednesday announced that it's launching a new line of chocolate spreads, called Hershey's Spreads. The spreads will be available in three varieties: Chocolate, Chocolate with Almond and Chocolate with Hazelnut. 

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons has confirmed that it plans to shutter 26 locations.

“This is part of our typical review cycle, and after reviewing store performance, we determined that these stores could not be positioned for future profitability, with the exception of the two stores in Acme that were closed for underperformance. The two Acme stores were closed because the leases are expiring,” the company said in a statement sent to Drug Store News.

NEW YORK — Multicultural beauty brand IMAN Cosmetics is the official cosmetics partner for “About Last Night” and will launch a new custom-created collection inspired by the film’s theme and characters.

The Luxury Moisturizing Lipstick Collection features five new shades — Hot, Scandalous, Taboo, Flirtatious, and Kinky Pink — that are available at Walgreens and Wal-Mart.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has completed the acquisition of Coram, the specialty infusion services and enteral nutrition business unit of Apria Healthcare Group.

Coram is one of the nation's largest providers of infusion services, caring for approximately 165,000 patients annually. Coram has 4,600 employees, including 600 nurses, 350 pharmacists and 250 dietitians, operating primarily through 85 branch locations and six centers of excellence for patient intake.