Top Retailers

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens' latest mobile features have gained momentum among its pharmacy customers.

The drug store chain said that four months after debuting Refill by Scan for iPhone and Android platforms, the application now accounts for more than half of all prescription refills ordered through Walgreens mobile applications. What's more, Walgreens' prescription text alerts, which notify customers via text message when their prescriptions are ready, has surpassed 1 million subscribers since launching last year.

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.

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;

PITTSBURGH and BENTONVILLE, Ark. — After providing its products to Rite Aid customers through a co-branded store format for more than a decade, GNC is making its foray into the warehouse club for the first time by offering select private-label products at Sam's Club locations.

GNC's products will boost Sam's Club's current health-and-wellness offerings by extending GNC's specialty retailing brand to mass-market customers.

LOS ANGELES — A Kroger banner based in Los Angeles has kicked off a charitable campaign to benefit children's hospitals based in Southern California.

Ralphs on Monday said it is raising funds through its nonprofit, The Ralphs Fund, by asking customers and associates to donate their spare change in collection canisters located at Ralphs checkout stands.

Southern California children's hospitals that will benefit from the charitable fundraising drive include:

• Children's Hospital of Orange County;