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CINCINNATI — Kroger's third-quarter revenue, including fuel, leaped 5.9% to $18.7 billion, the supermarket giant reported Thursday.

Excluding fuel sales, total sales increased 3.1% in the third quarter, which ended Nov. 6, the company noted. Earnings per share for the company rose to 32 cents per share, totaling $202.2 million. During the same period last year, Kroger reported a net loss of $874.9 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, after the company's $1.05 billion write-down of its Ralphs division.

NEW YORK — The inhabitants of Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood tend to like their independent, mom-and-pop stores. So it's no surprise that the recent opening of a Duane Reade store on Bedford Avenue caused some controversy among residents. But then again, Duane Reade is no ordinary drug store chain, and it showed its independent spirit with something far from controversial: beer.

MINNEAPOLIS — Same-store sales surged 5.5% at Target during November, exceeding the company’s guidance and analysts’ expectations for a low-single digit gain. The company said the number of people shopping its stores as measured by transactions increased nearly 4% and average transaction sizes also were up slightly with broad-based growth throughout the store.

The company is looking for December comps to increase in the low- to mid-single digit range.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark announced on Thursday that it has been awarded pharmacy benefit management and drug therapy management accreditation from URAC, a healthcare accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the healthcare industry. CVS Caremark previously had received accreditation for PBM and DTM from URAC in 2007.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Thursday posted sales of $6.2 billion, down 2.3%, for its third quarter ended Nov. 27. Same-store sales for the period declined 1.3%, representing flat front-end sales and a pharmacy comparable sales decline of 1.9%.

For the five-week period ended Nov. 27, which includes Black Friday sales, front-end sales were up 1.3% while pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 248 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, declined 2.5%. Overall monthly comps fell 1.3%.

CINCINNATI — A consumer products giant and a big-box retailer are looking to connect deployed members of the U.S. military with their families during the holiday season, with help from the United Service Organizations.

NEW YORK — The charitable arm of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores held its 12th annual dinner in New York on Tuesday, which generated $1.76 million for research, charitable efforts and scholarships.

The NACDS Foundation said some of the funds were granted to those that sought to improve medication adherence -- understanding medication therapy and appropriately taking medications -- among patients. The foundation awarded a $1 million grant to National Consumer League’s public awareness campaign, which promotes medication adherence.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — An alliance between a drug store chain and a national pharmacy benefit manager resulted in more than $3 million in savings over a seven-month period for the PBM clients.