Top Retailers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CARA B Natural Products, a maker of ethnic personal care products, has just launched its collection of all-natural skin and hair care products formulated especially for ethnic babies and children in Target stores across the country.

LOS ANGELES — Kroger banners Ralphs and Food 4 Less are raising funds to support children's hospitals.

The chains' children's hospital fundraising campaign will run from Jan. 29 to May 19. Ralphs will support children's hospitals in Southern California, while Food 4 Less will raise funds for children's hospitals in Southern California, southern Nevada and the greater Chicago area. The supermarket chain's Foods Co Division also is collecting donations for children's hospitals in central and northern California.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — With at least a dozen states reporting confirmed cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, during the first three weeks of January, MinuteClinic is urging parents and guardians to obtain a DTaP shot (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) for unvaccinated children under 7 years old.  Booster shots, known as Tdap, also are encouraged for all pre-teens, teens and adults.

NEW YORK — Walgreens and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation on Thursday jointly announced that Walgreens' community-based programs helped raise more than $1.4 million in 2011 for JDRF causes. The year marked the 20th anniversary of Walgreens' partnership with JDRF to raise funds for research to put an end to Type 1 diabetes.

NEW YORK — Walmart on Wednesday opened its second supercenter in Chicago.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Stat Health Services on Wednesday named Jeffrey Rein, former chairman and CEO of Walgreens, to the company's board of directors.

Candy is a powerhouse category for the drug channel. Candy and gum represent more than 6% of center-store sales, according to the National Confectioners Association, and contribute $3 billion annually to the channel.

Chocolate, which has been a strong category, is experiencing sales deceleration since manufacturers and retailers have passed higher production costs onto consumers.

NEW YORK — Help Remedies last week launched a new product targeted toward those suffering from chest congestion. The new expectorant, branded "Help I have chest congestion," contains the single active ingredient guaifenesin (200 mg), and is now available nationally at Target, the company stated.