Top Retailers

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has appointed David Kelly as group VP construction, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Kelly, who has worked in real estate and development for more than 25 years, will start work May 31 and will have overall responsibility for all store planning and construction services, in addition to having a role in various segmentation initiatives, including Wellness, value and co-branded Save-A-Lot/Rite Aid stores. He will report directly to SVP, CFO and chief administrative officer Frank Vitrano.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Members of a local coalition in Providence launched on Monday the Script Your Future campaign, which is part of a national effort to educate consumers on the importance of medication adherence.

Elizabeth Roberts, lieutenant governor of the state of Rhode Island, together with the National Consumers League on Monday will launch Script Your Future in Providence to raise awareness among patients about the health consequences of not taking medication as directed.

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Monday announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Shadow Beverages and Snacks, the producer and distributor of Ironclad Energy + Hydration and No Fear Energy drinks.

The deal is expected to push the GNC brand name beyond its retail base and partnership with Rite Aid in the drug channel. Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Shadow Beverages and Snacks will produce a line of ready-to-drink products that will be marketed under the GNC brand.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart parent company Sears Holdings has named William Phelan as acting CFO, replacing Michael Collins, currently SVP and CFO, who resigned last week to pursue another opportunity, the company reported in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Collins will remain with the company until June 10 in order to ensure a smooth transition, Sears noted in the filing.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Success is often one of the biggest blind spots a company can have, because you’re so busy doing well you don’t have the time to assess what it is you’re doing. That is one of the core reasons for being for the Mack Elevation Forum, “a share group on steroids,” described program founder Dan Mack, EVP of strategic business development for the Swanson Group, which hosted its most recent meeting on April 29 here at the Hilton Scottsdale.

FLUSHING, N.Y. — The New York Mets announced the launch of the "Honorary Captain" program presented by Duane Reade, which gives fans the opportunity to be an honorary team captain and bring out the Mets lineup card before one of the Subway Series games, which will be held July 1 to 3 at Citi Field.

Winners of the "Honorary Captain" program presented by Duane Reade also will receive four VIP tickets to one of the Subway Series games and a Mets jersey. The program also is sponsored by Precise, from the maker of Tylenol.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway's board of directors announced a 21% increase in its quarterly dividend.

The retailer's cash dividend rose to 14.5 cents per share and will be payable on July 14 to stockholders of record on June 23.

Safeway operates 1,692 stores in the United States and western Canada.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — To say that the impact of high prices at the pump this year is not as bad as it was in 2008 may be a testament to just how bad it was in 2008. As long as the price-per-gallon hovers above or below that magical $4, it’s still plenty bad, and there still are plenty of people who are changing shopping behaviors because of it.