Top Retailers

ADA, OHIO — Kroger last month installed its first remote "kiosk store" on the campus of Ohio Northern University here, according to a report published Wednesday in the Toledo Blade.

The kiosk model is still in test market phase, a company representative told the Blade.

The refrigerate, 10-ft.-by-13-ft. kiosk can hold up to 200 items — though the Kroger kiosk currently fields 164 SKUs — including anything from toiletries and cleaning supplies to perishables that include fresh milk, bread, fruit and ground beef.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska officials on Wednesday announced the state will switch health insurance carriers from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to United Healthcare, effective July 1, according to reports.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway is launching a first-of-its kind competition that could land one chef a job with the Safeway Culinary Kitchens and his/her recipe included in the Open Nature Skillet Meal line.

WABAN, MASS. — Research results released Tuesday by Temkin Group, which rates the customer experience of 206 large companies across 18 industries, showed that only eight companies deliver excellent customer experience.

Sam's Club and Publix led the pack, followed by Starbucks, Subway, Chick-fil-A, Aldi, Winn-Dixie, H-E-B and credit unions.

According to the 2012 Temkin Experience Ratings, in its second year, 76 companies (37% of the total) earned "poor" or "very poor" ratings.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark on Tuesday released an economic impact study of its contribution to the economy of its headquarters state of Rhode Island.

The Pricewaterhouse Coopers-conducted study showed that the company's Rhode Island operations contributed more than $1.2 billion to Rhode Island's gross domestic product in 2010, approximately 12,000 jobs, $831 million in labor income, and $116 million in state and local taxes.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is offering $481 million in eight-year senior notes to refinance debt that is scheduled to be due in three years, the retail pharmacy chain said Tuesday.

Rite Aid said it would use money from the offering to pay interest and other expenses related to a tender offer announced Tuesday for all outstanding 8.625% senior notes due 2015. The price includes the $459 million principal plus a 2.625% premium. The new notes are being offered at a 9.25% interest rate.

Chances are, you didn’t enroll in pharmacy school to count out pills behind a counter. As part of the next generation of clinically driven PharmDs, you’re probably looking for a lot more.

LAS VEGAS — Supervalu on Monday announced that its new Essential Everyday private-label brand — to include more than 2,400 products by early 2013 — now is available in select independent retail locations.

“Early results have shown that Essential Everyday is performing very well at our 1,100 Supervalu-owned stores, and we believe that our independent retailers will see a positive customer response as well," stated Leon Bergmann, president of Supervalu's independent business.