Top Retailers

WASHINGTON — RetireSafe, a 400,000-supporter strong grassroots organization that advocates and educates on behalf of America's seniors on issues regarding Social Security, Medicare, health and financial well-being, on Friday issued a press release urging Express Scripts to return to the negotiating table and come to an agreement with Walgreens.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — It's been a big week for Walgreens. Following its exit from Express Scripts' pharmacy network, the pharmacy retailer introduced a new program to help patients either keep their pharmacy home at Walgreens or to help transition them to a new pharmacy. Why help transition customers to the competition? Because it's the right thing to do. As Greg Wasson told DSN editor Rob Eder in an exclusive interview, "our No. 1 priority is to take care of patients."

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Net sales for Costco rose 9% in December to nearly $10.1 billion, the company announced Thursday.

The company also reported that U.S. comparable-store sales and international comps rose 7$ and 9%, respectively, during the five-week period. Excluding gasoline price increases and a slightly negative impact of foreign-currency translations, the quarter's same-store sales rose 7%, Costco noted.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales increased 3.6% in December 2011, compared with December 2010, the company said Thursday.

Front-end same-store sales increased by 0.7%, while pharmacy same-store sales increased by 5.2% and prescription count at comparable stores increased 3.2%. Total store sales increased by 3.3% to $2.6 billion, compared with December 2010's nearly $2.6 billion.

NEW YORK — Manhattan-based pharmacy retailer Duane Reade has confirmed plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to 40 Wall St., which is already home to its mega flagship store.

The company’s current lease at its corporate headquarters at 440 Ninth Ave. was nearing its August expiration so the retailer, which is owned by Walgreens, began searching for a new space.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Thursday reported an approximate 150 basis-point negative impact on prescriptions filled based on prescription transfers, and other trend analysis of prescriptions managed by Express Scripts, as the chain posted its first monthly earnings statement following the discontinuation of Walgreens' relationship with Express Scripts. That represents an increase from a 110 basis-point impact in November, but falls short of the 200 basis-point impact projected by Credit Suisse research analyst Ed Kelly earlier this week.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings recently finished its latest "Fitness Flagship" store-within-a-store, which it now has at more than 30 Sears stores, the retailer said.

Sears Holdings, which operates the Sears and Kmart store chains, said the 6,000-sq.-ft. stores feature polished hardwood stores, tall mirrors and expanded fitness equipment layouts designed to resemble a gym.

ATLANTA — Hair accessory brand Goody has announced the launch of its DoubleWear collection of jewelry-inspired elastics and headwraps.

A recent Goody poll reported that most women wear an elastic on their wrist as a convenient way to keep it handy, but 68% of respondents said they were frustrated with how this look compromised their style. Enter DoubleWear.