Top Retailers

NEW YORK — Walgreens is making its Duane Reade street facings mobile-friendly with the addition of a QR-coded window cling across its storefronts, Mobile Marketer reported Tuesday.

ATLANTA — Walgreens on Tuesday partnered with the online platform Sharecare on the launch of a new "Answers" application, which provides access to a comprehensive and searchable drug, supplement and wellness database on Facebook.

The application, which is integrated into Walgreens' Facebook page, gives Walgreens nearly 2 million followers convenient access to an interactive portal containing health information and resources.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and the Chicago Health System on Tuesday reminded CHS patients who were given a flu shot voucher from Walgreens to redeem the voucher by the end of the month and help increase flu vaccination rates throughout the Chicagoland area. Through this program, the health system distributed approximately 25,000 vouchers in January to CHS patients who had not received the vaccination.

WABAN, Mass. — Sam's Club has the most loyal customers, according to a new study by the Temkin Group. The report, "2012 Temkin Loyalty Ratings," rated the loyalty that consumers have to 206 large companies across 18 industries.

Only seven companies earned "very strong" loyalty ratings. In addition to the retailers listed above, credit unions and USAA earned the distinction. Sam’s Club had the most loyal customers across all industries, with a loyalty rating of 65%.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Tuesday joined forces with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion on an initiative to develop and promote dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has completed its $10 billion share repurchase program.

The program, which was authorized by the retailer's board of directors in November 2007, represents the repurchase of 193.5 million shares, or nearly 23% of its outstanding shares from that time period, at an average price of $51.68 per share.

Target will continue to repurchase shares under the $5 billion program approved by its board of directors in January, which it expects to complete in the next two to three years.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — A miniature version of the spike in stock market activity that followed speculation about the prospects of a Walgreens-Rite Aid merger happened on Drug Store News' website as a quick writeup about the potential deal became the most-read story on the site.

(THE NEWS: Reports: WAG-RAD merger speculation drives RAD stock to four-year high. For the full story, click here)

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway announced that its board of directors Friday declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 14.5 cents per share.

The dividend will be payable on April 12 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 22, the company noted.