Top Retailers

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday partnered with Passport Health Plan, a local Medicaid health plan in Louisville, Ky.,  on a new smoking-cessation program that launched in early January. The program is free to Walgreens customers and Passport members and aims to improve the community’s health by giving smokers the tools, resources and ongoing clinical pharmacist counseling to help them achieve their cessation goals.

CHICAGO and WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark's MinuteClinic has announced that it will transition from its existing proprietary electronic medical record system to the Allscripts MyWay Electronic Health Record.

DAYTON, Ohio — While Walmart maintained the No. 1 position on Interbrand's "U.S. Most Valuable Retail Brands" list for 2012, several other retailers are moving up the ranks.

Although Walmart touts a value that's more than $139 billion, this year also marked a 2% decrease for the big box retailer, Interbrand said. Second on this year's list was Target, which holds a value of $23 billion, a 1% increase over last year.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The owner of Sears and Kmart stores reportedly is cutting 100 jobs at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

According to published reports, Sears Holdings spokesman Chris Brathwaite said the cuts cover a range of positions and that the terminated employees were notified Thursday.

The retailer has not said whether additional cuts are planned.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — A common feature in movies from the mid-20th century is the automat, a place where customers could plunk in a few coins and retrieve such pre-made food items as sandwiches and desserts.

(THE NEWS: Kroger expands reach to Ohio Northern campus with kiosk test. For the full story, click here.)

ORLANDO, Fla. — FMI will be hosting a new retail-pharmacy-focused panel here on March 18 during the association's Retail Food & Pharmacy Health & Wellness expo to be moderated by DSN's editor-in-chief Rob Eder.


NEW YORK — MinuteClinic is on track to double its clinic count in the coming years, posting a 40% revenue increase in the fourth quarter and inking 14 affiliations with health systems. This is no doubt an impressive feat for the clinic operator, but it also speaks to a larger growth trend sweeping the convenient care industry.


WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The call to Congress to reject budget proposals that would increase co-pays for prescription medications at community pharmacies for Tricare patients is important as the war between the pharmacy and pharmacy benefit manager lobbies heats up.