Top Retailers

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A Rite Aid category manager has won a top award from a trade association representing candy makers.

Rite Aid said Monday that Val Stansfield had received the 2012 Confectionary Leadership Award from the National Confectioners Association. The award is given to people who demonstrate "exemplary leadership behaviors in business planning and collaboration," the company said. Stansfield was 1-of-3 recipients at the NCA's State of the Industry Conference last week in Miami.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has announced that its EVP and chief medical officer Troyen Brennan has been named to the National Commission on Physician Payment Reform, an independent commission that will assess how physicians are paid, and how pay incentives are linked to patient care.

LAS VEGAS — Walgreens last week outlined how the company's research has demonstrated the ability of face-to-face pharmacy and Take Care Clinic programs to drive better health outcomes at the IMS Managed Markets Services/Data Niche Conference held here.

Some of the savings advantages inherent in the offerings provided by Walgreens include:

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart said Thursday it is continuing its annual tradition of increasing shareholder payout by raising its dividend by 9%.

Walmart will pay a quarterly dividend of 39.75 cents on April 4 to shareholders of record on March 12. That works out to $1.59 per share for the year. The company has increased its dividend every year since its first declared dividend in March 1974.

According to Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke, the company's U.S. business is back on track, and international results remain strong.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The highest circulation of any health magazine in America. That's a major commitment when you think how hard consumer magazines have been hit in recent years.

(THE NEWS: Sam's Club launches wellness magazine for members. For the full story, click here)

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — An organization representing independent pharmacies has joined a recently announced nationwide pharmacy network that aims to get patients to receive personalized care from their pharmacists.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — There is one key takeaway from Fast Company's naming of Walgreens as one of the industry's most innovative companies — Walgreens wasn't classified under the industry banner of "retailer," but under the industry banner of "health care." And if that isn't proof enough that Walgreens' latest retooling of its pharmacy is making patients rethink what health care is all about, then consider this: Walgreens is the only company in Fast Company's Healthcare Top 10 that physically interacts with patients — in Americ

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and AARP are expanding their relationship with a new retail drug store program that will provide AARP members with exclusive offers and rewards, and includes member and community outreach to promote health and wellness.

The program will run for three years and builds on an already-established relationship between the two, which have collaborated on several initiatives since 2006.