Top Retailers

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Washington-based healthcare accrediting organization URAC has given a subsidiary of CVS Caremark case management accreditation, valid through March 1, 2016, CVS said Wednesday.

CVS said Accordant Health Services met URAC's standards, which require companies to establish processes to assess, plan and implement case management interventions.

NEW YORK — Fast Company magazine and Target are sponsoring a competition to develop a new mobile experience for Target, with a grand prize of $75,000.

The Co.Labs and Target Retail Accelerator is a competition to create either a mobile app or a mobile-enabled website design for the retailer, taking places at the Fast Co. Grill in Austin, Texas, blocks away from the SXSW conference. Entries will be accepted between this Friday and April 30, and seven finalists will be selected in May and awarded $10,000 to develop their prototypes.

WASHINGTON — Club retailer Costco Wholesale is throwing its support behind a bill introduced in Congress Tuesday to raise the federal minimum wage.

PITTSBURGH — Health and wellness products retailer GNC is sponsoring a 12-week effort to encourage consumers to transform eating and exercise habits for long-term weight management, the company said.

GNC Holdings, the retailer's parent company, announced the Total Lean Challenge and Sweepstakes, which offers a chance for consumers to win $25,000 in cash prizes, as well as serving as an introduction to the company's Lifestyle Diet approach to weight loss and a way to promote products like the Lean Shake and Total Lean Watertex.

LAKELAND, Fla. — While Publix has been tied to rumors it may put in a bid for Harris Teeter, local daily The Ledger on Monday reported that Publix isn't at all interested. 

Publix is in the midst of its first expansion into North Carolina, with plans to open two stores in the Charlotte area in 2014.

Officials with Harris Teeter recently confirmed that the 208-store chain will consider offers from potential buyers.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens' February sales fell short of analyst projections due to a sharper impact from generic drug introductions. Walgreens on Tuesday reported sales in total comparable stores decreased by 0.6% in February. Generic drug introductions negatively impacted total pharmacy comparable sales, which were flat, by 600 basis points, Walgreens reported.

NEW YORK — L&R Distributors on Tuesday closed on the deal to acquire the assets of SAJ Distributors, along with the private-label line Select Brand from Walgreens. 

This transaction was announced originally in November 2012. 

DES MOINES, Iowa — OutcomesMTM, a medication therapy management delivery system, on Tuesday recognized its top chain and independent pharmacies for 2012. Walgreens and Kerr Drug were named top large pharmacy chain and top regional pharmacy chain, respectively.