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IRVINE, Calif. — Dr. Sears Family Essentials on Tuesday announced the flavor line extension of its Cool Fuel ready-to-drink shakes, adding chocolate banana to its lineup.

ATLANTA — Former Walmart executive Charles Leehan has taken on a new role at a self-service kiosks provider.

Leehan will serve as director of national accounts for SoloHealth, reporting to Rick Voight, the company's VP channel development. In this capacity, he will oversee and manage relationships across national accounts to ensure SoloHealth’s partners receive the best possible service and individualized attention from the SoloHealth team.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday promoted Mike Spear to divisional merchandise manager of the retailer’s personal care division and announced that Lauren Vondrasek is transitioning to the company’s beauty merchandising unit, which is headed by Barbara Larson.

Spear has more than 20 years of retail experience, most recently as director of category planning at Walgreens.

WASHINGTON — CVS Caremark and a panel of health experts explored research findings and the problem of medication nonadherence Thursday morning during CVS Caremark’s first-ever national forum on medication nonadherence at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

LOS ANGELES — Kroger banners Ralphs and Food 4 Less have commenced their Honoring Our Heroes fundraising campaign to benefit the United Service Organizations.

The checkstand fundraising, which will run through Aug. 13, is in conjunction with the USO's 70th anniversary.

All monies collected through the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Honoring Our Heroes fundraising program will be donated directly to the USO to support its programs, entertainment and other services for our service men and women.

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food is donating nearly $2 million to schools in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia as part of its 2010-2011 A+ School Rewards program, the Royal Ahold banner said Wednesday.

The program, which has operated for 22 years, allows customers to support school programs every time they use their Giant card at a Giant Food store.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Purdue University, the University of Missouri and the University of North Carolina were the beneficiaries of a $1.5 million grant program designed to expand community pharmacy residency programs for recent school graduates.

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation announced on Thursday that the academic institutions were the first three beneficiaries of the Community Pharmacy Residency Expansion Project (Community PREP) grant program.

For this first round of awards, the recipients were:

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General announced its plans to expand its operations to California in 2012.

The California announcement comes on the heels of the company’s planned expansions into three new states in 2011 — Connecticut, Nevada and New Hampshire. California would be Dollar General’s 39th state.

The company said it plans to serve shoppers in rural, suburban and metropolitan markets.