Top Retailers

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Wednesday announced today it was named the 2013 Retailer of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Wine Enthusiast selected Kroger Retailer of the Year because of the company's "dynamic growth, dedication to wine, ability to foresee trends and customer service," the editors stated. According to a profile of the grocer, Kroger surpassed $1 billion in wine sales in 2012 and is expected to post double-digit growth in 2013. 

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has expanded its Beauty Concierge program in three metropolitan areas across the country, the mass-merchandise retailer said Wednesday.

The company said it implemented the program at 95 stores in New York and New Jersey, the San Francisco Bay Area and Dallas-Fort Worth. Stores are staffed with a beauty concierge, a specially trained, brand-agnostic assistant who answers customers' questions in the store and provides personalized, detailed and unbiased information about beauty and personal care products.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Diabetes Association on Tuesday announced that Walgreens has been named a National Strategic Partner of the American Diabetes Association, in recognition of its commitment to support the mission and the association's movement to Stop Diabetes.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — A new study conducted by researchers at CVS Caremark and Brigham and Women's Hospital explored the impact of genetic testing on prescribing patterns for cardiovascular therapy and found that there is an opportunity to improve upon the information physicians and patients receive on the evolving body of evidence for pharmacogenomics.

PHOENIX — Theranos and Walgreens on Wednesday opened new Theranos Wellness Centers located at Walgreens stores in the Phoenix metropolitan area. This marks the next step in Theranos and Walgreens planned national rollout of Theranos Wellness Centers, and the first expansion of the new laboratory services outside of California. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's philanthropic arm is donating $50,000 for relief efforts in the Philippines in the wake of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.

The Rite Aid Foundation announced Wednesday that it would donate the money to the Red Cross for people and communities affected. The typhoon, which hit the Southeast Asian island nation Friday, left an estimated 582,000 homeless, according to government estimates cited by CNN, devastating communities like the city of Tacloban. Philippine president Benigno Aquino III told CNN that the death toll was likely to be around 2,500.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust has announced a donation of $50,000 to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts underway in the Philippines following this weekend's devastating Typhoon, which has impacted an estimated 4.3 million people in 36 provinces, with a potential total donation of up to $100,000 through the matching of CVS Caremark employee donations.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has elected the president and CEO of Catholic Health Initiatives to its board of directors, the retail pharmacy chain said Tuesday.

Rite Aid announced the appointment of Kevin Lofton, who has worked with the Englewood, Colo.-based operator of hospitals and long-term care centers since 1998 and was appointed as its president and CEO in 2003.