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Walgreens chief Greg Wasson had a new vision to share with the pharmacy operator's faithful shareholders for 2013. It was a vision that firmly placed the Express Scripts dispute in the rear-view mirror and refocused on the road ahead, that includes expanding the role of pharmacy and even what it means to be a U.S. pharmacy operator with its acquisition of Alliance Boots. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The board of directors of Walgreens on Thursday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 27.5 cents per share, a 22.2% increase over the year ago dividend. The dividend is payable March 12, 2013, to shareholders of record Feb. 15, 2013.

Walgreens has paid a dividend in 321 straight quarters (more than 80 years) and has raised its dividend for 37 consecutive years. Over the last five years, Walgreens annual dividend rate has increased from 38 cents per share to $1.10 per share, resulting in a compound annual growth rate of nearly 24%.

Walmart's Arkansas Payment Improvement Initiative aims to create a more patient-centered and cost-efficient payment system for the retailer's home state. 

The latest move by Walmart is as sure an indication as any that health care is becoming less about fee-for-service and more about basing compensation on ratings derived from patient outcomes.

Last week in a much anticipated move, Cerberus Capital Management acquired 877 supermarkets from Supervalu for $100 million in cash and the assumption of $3.2 billion in debt.  Also part of the deal, a Cerberus-led investor consortium will provide the remaining Supervalu business an influx with the purchase of up to 30% of Supervalu stock at a purchase price of $4 per share. 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and Sam's Club are introducing a new contact lens program for 2013, the retailers said Thursday.

The new program will allow customers to visit Walmart's or Sam's Club's website or call a toll-free number to place contact lens orders and have them delivered to their homes, with free shipping available for orders of more than $50. In addition, the two are offering low prices for certain Acuvue, Air Optix and Biofinity lenses, while Walmart is planning to launch its private-label Equate brand in February.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday announced that its employees gave more than 1 million hours of volunteer service to their neighborhoods and communities in 2012 - surpassing the company's goal for the second consecutive year and reinforcing a long-standing culture of volunteerism.

MINNEAPOLIS — In a move that will reunite all Albertsons stores under one operator, Supervalu on Thursday morning announced a definitive agreement under which it will sell 877 stores across the Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market banners and related Osco and Sav-on in-store pharmacies to AB Acquisition, an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, in a transaction valued at $3.3 billion.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Beauty licensing company Boldface Group will launch Khroma Beauty by Kourtney Kim and Khloe in 138 Duane Reade and Beauty.com stores this spring, the company has announced.

Khroma Beauty by Kourtney Kim and Khloe is set to launch at Ulta Beauty, CVS, Sears, Meijer, HEB and Fred Meyer, the company stated. This follows a holiday season when the brand debuted a sneak peek at the collection slated to launch this spring.