Top Retailers

NEW YORK and WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has inked a three-year agreement with ActiveHealth Management, an independent subsidiary of Aetna, under which CVS Caremark will apply the evidence-based, clinical intelligence of the ActiveHealth CareEngine to healthcare claims for its PBM customers to identify opportunities for improved pharmacy care.

CVS Caremark will apply the CareEngine to more than 800,000 members beginning in April, with additional membership to be added as CVS Caremark consults with its PBM clients.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart is continuing its support of the March of Dimes by collaborating with the organization for the 28th time.

The retailer said it would raise funds to benefit the organization, whose goal is to help improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Last year, Kmart associates raised more than $10.5 million through donations from customers, family and friends to benefit the lives of millions of babies that are born in the United States each year.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Walgreens has won recognition from a company that designs medication therapy management programs.

Walgreens, which has invested heavily in their MTM programs, was named the top national chain by Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care’s MTM network.

Other honorees included Kerr Drug, Kroger and Supervalu, which were saluted for MTM services provided at one of their respective stores.

MINNEAPOLIS — Apna International has launched at Target a new fragrance collection called Tattooed By Inky, which features fragrances for both men and women.

The collection of body sprays is geared toward a young and trendy audience. The Tattooed By Inky collection features five scents — two for men, two for women and one unisex.

The body sprays are priced at $5.99 each and include:

• Monkey Business (male), which has a blend of leather, lavender, pepper and sandalwood;

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Sales at club-based mass merchandiser Costco increased by 11% to $20.45 billion during the second quarter of fiscal year 2011, according to an earnings report Wednesday. For the first half of fiscal 2011, net sales increased to nearly $39.3 billion, from about $35.3 billion last year.

The figures include sales from Costco’s 50% owned joint venture in Mexico, and sales in that country accounted for about three percentage points of the quarterly and year-to-date sales.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens said its pharmacies are prepared to compound Tamiflu capsules into liquid form after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported widespread flu activity in the United States.

The drug store chain said it is addressing the demand for liquid Tamiflu for children, which has resulted in a shortage of the flu-fighting drug.

WOONSOCKET, R.I., and RYE BROOK, N.Y. — In connection with the previously announced $1.25 billion acquisition of the Medicare Part D business of Universal American by CVS Caremark, both companies have announced that the Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of second quarter 2011 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of Universal American shareholders and state regulatory approvals.

PEAPACK, N.J. — Consumer products company Scerene Healthcare is bringing its Puristics Totally Ageless skin care line to Walgreens on a regional basis in April.

The collection is available in select markets at select retail locations, including Rite Aid, King Soopers and Harris Teeter. Beginning in April, the line also will be available in Walgreens in the Milwaukee, Madison, Wis., and Denver regions.