Top Retailers

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.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Sam's Club is offering free health screenings for the New Year on Saturday, the club retailer said.

The screenings are available at the 581 Sam's Club locations that operate a pharmacy and will take place from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The screenings are the first of a series of monthly screenings that will take place on the second Saturday of each month through October.

Screenings include glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, body mass index and vision.

NEW YORK — The semi-retired CEO of Costco Wholesale has been named as the recipient of the top award from the National Retail Federation at the trade group's upcoming trade show this month, the NRF said Wednesday.

Jim Sinegal, who stepped down as president CEO of the Issaquah, Wash.-based club retailer in 2012, after 29 years, but still plays an active role in the company and is a member of its board of directors, is scheduled to accept the NRF's Gold Medal Award for 2014 at Retail's BIG Show, which takes place from Jan. 12-15 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings is encouraging members of its loyalty card program to incorporate movement into their daily lives and stay fit with a new program, the retailer said.

Sears announced the launch of the FitStudio.com "Points for Progress" program, whereby members of the Shop Your Way loyalty card program can register for FitStudio.com, connect a fitness app or device and earn loyalty points through physical activity. Members who join the FitIn14 Challenge can early 5,000 points, equal to $5, for every 14 mi walked or run in 2014.

CHICAGO — Walgreens is not only completely transforming its drug store business from a prescription medicine dispensary to healthcare provider, they're continuing to deliver shareholder value. Since the chain implemented its "Plan to Win" strategy five years ago, kicking off Walgreens journey to reinvent and innovate the storied drug store chain for a new era of growth and value creation, Walgreens has delivered 145% in shareholder returns vs. the 118% return realized by the S&P 500 in the same period. 

SEATTLE — InMarket is piloting its iBeacons offering in select Safeway and Giant Eagle stores beginning Tuesday, according to published reports. 

The small, low-power Bluetooth transmitters work in tandem with iPhones running iOS 7 and is part of inMarket’s Mobile to Mortar program, which will deliver saving incentives to shoppers and increase sales for vendors. The iBeacons will be installed at the entry of each store. When the app detects an iBeacon at the entryway of a store, it will push a coupon or other discount to the customer’s phone.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Aetna has announced that Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies have been added to the preferred pharmacy network of the Aetna CVS/pharmacy Prescription Drug Plan as of Jan. 1.