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☆ Convenient No More: Why CVS, Walgreens, 7-11 Are in Trouble
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

What's more, many pharmacies serve as a convenient destination for all sorts of essentials, from aspirin to mascara. Big chains like Walgreens and CVS make their money in two main ways: selling prescriptions in the back of their stores and selling everyday goods out front. As Walgreens and CVS stores have proliferated over the past decade or so, many of their locations are basically right on top of each other. On the other end of the business, pharmacies are expensive to run. In the current landscape of commoditized pharmacies, there's no such thing as personalized service.

Persons: What's, Elizabeth Anderson, Neil Saunders, nilly, they've, Douglas Hoey, Jason Goldberg, Waits, Duane Reade, Brian Tanquilut, I've, Goldberg, Saunders, I'm, Nick Fabrizio, Steven Anderson, Fabrizio, Emily Stewart Organizations: Walgreens, CVS, Rite, Evercore ISI, Walmart, National Community Pharmacists Association, Express, Groupe, Jefferies, MTV, Cornell University, National Association of Chain Drug, Business Locations: mascara

☆ Why your drug store is closing
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

What is going on with America’s drug stores? Meanwhile, increased competition and failed growth strategies, like acquiring primary care providers, continue to have reverberating impacts on drug stores. Shifting trendsDrug store chains are struggling because of lower reimbursement rates for prescription drugs, according to analysts who cover the industry. A customer walks to a Walgreens store in Wheeling, Ill., Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. Dollar General’s growth has also hurt drug store chains in rural areas.

Persons: Tim Wentworth, “, ” Wentworth, Elizabeth Anderson, PBMs, ” Anderson, Nam, VIllageMD, Brendan Smialowski Organizations: New, New York CNN, CVS, Walgreens, Wall Street, IRI, CNN, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, American Medical Association Locations: New York, Wheeling , Ill, VillageMD, Washington ,, AFP

Walgreens said Tuesday it plans to close 1,200 stores over the next three years as it seeks to further downsize its footprint amid flagging sales and changing consumer behavior. Walgreens announced the closures as part of its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year earnings, which beat Wall Street's expectations. In June, Walgreens said it planned to close a “significant” number of its underperforming stores by 2027. Both Walgreens and rival CVS are facing a difficult operating environment, fighting to be profitable as consumers shift their habits. In 2021, CVS said it would close about 900 stores, or about 10% of its U.S. locations, from 2022 to 2024.

Persons: Tim Wentworth, ” Wentworth, ” Neil Saunders Organizations: Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Pharmacy, CNBC Locations: U.S

☆ Locked-up merchandise is turning off shoppers at CVS, Walgreens, and other big drugstores
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-11 | by ( Alex Bitter | Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewDrugstores like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid have long been the spots where you can pick up essentials like a can of soup or some Tylenol in addition to your prescriptions. Another appears to show a Rite Aid store with an even wider selection of locked-up merchandise, including tortilla chips and microwavable ramen. Rite Aid did not immediately respond to a request for comment. She said she even avoids taking orders that involve shopping at one particular Walgreens store due to all the locked-up goods there. Do you work at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, or another drugstore chain and have a story idea to share?

Persons: —, that's, Neil Saunders, Saunders, Duane Reade, Walgreens execs, Tim Wentworth, GlobalData's Saunders, dreuter@businessinsider.com Organizations: Service, Walgreens, Rite, Business, Global, CVS, Rite Aid, Companies, Walmart, Target Locations: Brooklyn , New York, Nevada

☆ We visited a Rite Aid store. The empty shelves made us wonder about the chain's future.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Jordan Hart | Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Business Insider visited a Rite Aid store in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, over nearly three months. It was difficult to find hair care and hygiene products at this Brooklyn Rite Aid location. The empty shelves at Rite Aid look like they've remained that way weeks after our first visits. Rite Aid is one of several store chains closing locations this year, alongside Family Dollar and Conn's. Do you work at Rite Aid and have a story idea or details on your store to share?

Persons: —, Jordan Hart, Coke, they've, There's, Walgreen, abitter@businessinsider.com Organizations: Service, Business, Rite Aid, Brooklyn Rite, Brooklyn Rite Aid, BI Locations: Crown, Brooklyn , New York, Brooklyn

☆ Rite Aid reaches bankruptcy settlement with lenders, DOJ, McKesson
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Rite Aid logo is displayed above a Ride Aid store on December 21, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Pharmacy chain Rite Aid has reached a settlement with its lenders, the U.S. Department of Justice, and drug supplier McKesson Corp , clearing a path for Rite Aid to complete its bankruptcy case by late April, a company lawyer said Tuesday. "We have reached an agreement on all key points with all key economic stakeholders," Rite Aid attorney Aparna Yenamandra said at a bankruptcy court hearing in Trenton, New Jersey. Before it filed for bankruptcy, Rite Aid faced over 1,600 lawsuits alleging that pharmacy chain ignored red flags and illegally filled prescriptions for addictive opioid medication. Rite Aid received bankruptcy court approval to sell its pharmacy benefit company, Elixir, in January.

Persons: Aparna Yenamandra, Yenamandra, Andrew Rosenberg, Joshua Sussberg, Michael Kaplan, Kaplan Organizations: Pharmacy, U.S . Department of Justice, McKesson Corp, Aid, Rite Aid, Aid's, Brigade Capital Management, HG Vora Capital Management, Morgan Investment Management, U.S Locations: Los Angeles , California, Trenton , New Jersey

☆ Facial recognition tech is widespread now, but still might not recognize you
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Facial recognition frequently misidentifies people of colorMIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini found that facial recognition technology misidentified black women up to 35% of the time, the New York Times reported in 2018. When fewer photos of people from other racial and gender groups are used, facial recognition tech is less accurate at identifying people of those backgrounds, the study said. In some cases, it's possible to opt out of using facial recognition technology — and its high error rate. But sidestepping facial recognition often isn't possible, said Gideon Christian, a law professor at the University of Calgary who has written about the legal and societal aspects of facial recognition technology. AdvertisementThe FTC banned Rite Aid from using facial recognition technology in stores for five years as a result.

Persons: —, Spark, Joy Buolamwini, shoplifters haven't, Gideon Christian, Samuel Levine, Christian Organizations: Service, TSA, Business, MIT Media, New York Times, MIT Technology Review, Walmart, CBP, University of Calgary, FTC, FTC's, Consumer Protection, Rite Aid Locations: India

☆ Texas man sues Macy’s and Sunglass Hut parent over wrongful arrest linked to facial recognition
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A Texas man is suing Macy’s and the parent company of Sunglass Hut after the two companies allegedly relied on error-prone facial recognition technology to falsely accuse him of armed robbery. “They were misled by Sunglass Hut and Macy’s and the reason why Murphy was jailed is because of the actions of these companies. In 2020, the American Civil Liberties Union challenged Detroit’s police department over what the group described as the first known wrongful arrest involving facial recognition. Facial recognition concernsFor years, civil liberties and privacy experts have warned of the risks of overly casual facial recognition use or an overreliance on the technology, and the possibility that algorithmic bias could lead to misidentification, racial discrimination or other unintended consequences. The FTC has similarly moved to restrict Instagram-parent Meta from using facial recognition technology, which Meta has challenged in court.

Persons: CNN —, Macy’s, Harvey Murphy Jr, Murphy’s, Murphy, ”, Daniel Dutko, “, EssilorLuxottica didn’t, EssilorLuxottica, Dutko, ” Dutko, Sunglass, “ We’re, they’re, ‘ We’ve, Meta Organizations: CNN, The Washington Post, Houston police, Department of Motor Vehicles, Houston, American Civil Liberties Union, Office, Federal Trade Commission, Aid, FTC Locations: Texas, Sunglass, Harris County, Houston, Sacramento , California, Harris, EssilorLuxottica, Michigan, Detroit

☆ CVS will close some Target pharmacy locations
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —CVS will close dozens of pharmacies located inside of Target stores in early 2024, a company spokesperson said on Thursday. The closures come as retail pharmacy chains in the US face increasing difficulties with their prescriptions business, workforces and more. Prior to the closing of any impacted location, prescriptions will be transferred to a nearby CVS Pharmacy, said Thibault. CVS purchased Target’s pharmacy business from the big box retailer in 2015 for $1.9 billion. CVS has about 9,000 pharmacy locations overall.

Persons: Amy Thibault, ”, Thibault Organizations: New, New York CNN, CVS, CVS Pharmacy, CNN, Rite, Labor, Target Locations: New York

☆ What’s open and closed on Thanksgiving Day 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Thanksgiving Day has looked different in recent years. Sights of people lining up at 5 pm Thanksgiving Day at large retailers to catch Black Friday deals are rare since the onset of the pandemic. Here’s what’s open and closed on Thanksgiving Day 2023. RetailTarget is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesPharmaciesMost Walgreens locations will be closed, marking the first time the pharmacy chain has closed stores on Thanksgiving day, it said.

Persons: Here’s, “, Brian Cornell, We’ll, John Furner, Nordstrom, Brendan Smialowski, Tom Thumb, Kroger, Felix Mizioznikov, – CNN’s Jennifer Korn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walmart, NBC, CVS, Getty, Walgreens, CVS Health, ., Aid, Foods, Albertsons, Safeway, Aldi, Costco, Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, UPS, FedEx Locations: New York, Washington ,, AFP, Brenham , TX, USA, Texas, Alamy

☆ Walgreens is cancelling corporate bonuses as big pharmacies face increasing difficulties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Walgreens on Tuesday sent out a notice to staff announcing that annual bonuses would not be funded. Tuesday was the second day of a planned three-day series of scattered walkouts by Walgreens pharmacy staff. A Walgreens representative clarified to CNN that only managers were eligible for bonuses at pharmacies. “We are building on the company’s pharmacy strength and trusted brand to evolve healthcare delivery. Stefano Pessina, the former Walgreens CEO and current executive chair of the board, worth nearly $7 billion, made more than $8 million in compensation last year, according to Walgreens compensation filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Persons: Manmohan Mahajan, ”, Fraser Engerman, Tim Wentworth, Neal Sample, Rosalind Brewer, Vincent Alban Vincent Alban, Reddit, Stefano Pessina, Shane Jerominski Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walgreens, Employees, CNN, Walgreens Boots Alliance, ”, Rite, CVS, REUTERS, Reuters, Securities and Exchange Commission, Labor, Reuters Labor, Workers, American Pharmacists Association Locations: New York, Deerfield , Illinois, U.S, Southern California, Deerfield, Il, Arizona , Washington , Massachusetts, Oregon

☆ As Rite Aid's bankruptcy shutters drugstores, these retailers will benefit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Rite Aid's bankruptcy is likely to be a bigger boost to retailers such as Walmart and Costco than it will be to other drugstore chains, according to UBS. And as drugstore closures accelerate, dollar stores may be able to scoop up some of the abandoned locations. Discount chains Dollar Tree and Dollar General could also benefit from drugstore closures. Dollar stores, in particular, could also expand into store fronts once operated by drugstore chains. For dollar stores, the real advantage will be the real estate left behind.

Persons: Michael Lasser, it's, Lasser, Stephen Buschbom, Buschbom, Gordon Haskett, we've Organizations: Walmart, Costco, UBS, Rite Aid, CVS Health, Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, Target, KR, Wall Street, FactSet, Albertsons, HSBC Locations: U.S

☆ Bankrupt Rite Aid resolves drug supply dispute with McKesson
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Dietrich Knauth | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A woman shops inside a Rite Aid store underneath a DeepCam security camera in New York City, New York, U.S., June 25, 2020. The lawsuit against McKesson alleged that the distributor improperly attempted to terminate the drug supply agreement on Saturday, just before Rite Aid declared bankruptcy. Rite Aid had accused McKesson of threatening to cut off its drug supply unless it immediately paid $700 million for amounts due under the contract. Rite Aid has relied on McKesson for its drugs for 20 years, and paid McKesson $9 billion under the contract in 2023, according to court filings. Rite Aid said it maintains very low drug inventory, forcing it to rely on daily deliveries from McKesson.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, McKesson, Joshua Sussberg, Sussberg, Michael Kaplan, Dietrich Knauth, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, McKesson Corp, . Rite, Rite Aid, Aid, Rite, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, New Jersey, Trenton

Rite Aid, one of the largest U.S. pharmacy retailers, stumbled under its high debt, revenue declines, increased competition, and opioid litigation, according to its court filings. Founded in 1962, Rite Aid employs 45,000 people at more than 2,000 retail stores in 17 states, and will remain open for business during the bankruptcy. Rite Aid, which has denied wrongdoing, said it hopes to reach an "equitable" settlement of opioid litigation in bankruptcy. A woman shops inside a Rite Aid store underneath a DeepCam security camera in New York City, New York, U.S., June 25, 2020. Rite Aid closed 200 stores before its bankruptcy, and it expects to close more as its Chapter 11 case proceeds.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, McKesson, Jeffrey Stein, Elizabeth Burr, Leroy Leo, Abinaya Vijayaraghavan, Mariam Sunny, Arun Koyyur, Marguerita Choy, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Rite Aid, Rite, Endo International, REUTERS, Bankruptcy, District of, MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Elixir ., Rite Aid . Rite, Aid, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York City , New York, District of New Jersey, Bengaluru

☆ Drug retailer Rite Aid files for bankruptcy, gets $3.45 bln commitment
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A woman shops inside a Rite Aid store underneath a DeepCam security camera in New York City, New York, U.S., June 25, 2020. The bankruptcy process will allow Rite Aid to resolve litigation claims in an "equitable manner", the company said. Rite Aid has appointed Jeffrey Stein as its new CEO and chief restructuring officer, replacing interim CEO Elizabeth Burr. Rite Aid has also reached an in-principle agreement with some of its senior secured noteholders that would significantly reduce its debt. MedImpact will serve as the 'stalking horse bidder' in a court-supervised sale process, Rite Aid said.

Persons: Lucas Jackson, Jeffrey Stein, Elizabeth Burr, Stein, Burr, noteholders, Abinaya Vijayaraghavan, Mariam Sunny, Sriparna Roy, Shweta Agarwal, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, Rite Aid Corp, U.S, Aid, Walgreens Boots Alliance, CVS Health, MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Solutions, Rite Aid, Bankruptcy, District of, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, District of New Jersey, Bengaluru

☆ The rise and fall of pharma bigwig Rite Aid, which couldn't keep up with rivals Walgreen and CVS
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Rite Aid filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday following slumping sales and a series of lawsuits. Rite Aid, which has over 47,000 employees, has struggled in recent years to compete against larger peers like CVS and Walgreens Boots Alliance, as well as Amazon. Rite Aid has faced growing competition from direct-to-consumer pharmacy startups as well as medication deliveries from the likes of Amazon and Uber. Rite Aid also experienced supply chain challenges after changing supplier for many of its perishable consumer goods and shrink "continued to be a significant headwind," Burr said. Representatives for Rite Aid did not immediately respond for Insider's request for further comment beyond sending statements about Stein's appointment and its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

Persons: it's, —, Jeffrey S, Stein, Elizabeth Burr, Heyward Donigan, Donigan, Burr, there'd Organizations: Service, Rite, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Rite Aid, pharma, Aid, Discount, Rite Aid Corporation, PayLess, Walgreens, Albertsons, New York Times Locations: New Jersey, Scranton , Pennsylvania

☆ Rite Aid just filed for bankruptcy and could be closing more of its 2,100 stores
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey on Sunday. AdvertisementAdvertisementRite Aid filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New Jersey on Sunday — a move that could see the drugstore chain close more of its 2,100 stores. Rite Aid has received a commitment for $3.45 billion in new financing from some of its lenders. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn March, the US Justice Department sued Rite Aid, accusing the company of missing "red flags" when pharmacists filled opioid prescriptions. A company spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal: "We expect to negotiate a resolution of the opioid-related lawsuits with the various parties involved."

Persons: —, Jeffrey S, Stein, Elizabeth Burr Organizations: Service, Aid, US Justice Department, Rite Aid, Wall Street Locations: New Jersey

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Pfizer, Lululemon, Manchester United, Rite Aid and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pfizer , Moderna , BioNTech — Shares of Pfizer dropped 1.3% after the company slashed its full-year revenue guidance by $9 billion, noting waning demand for its Covid treatment and vaccine. Following the guidance cut, Jefferies upgraded Pfizer on Monday, citing an attractive buying opportunity. Vaccine markers Moderna and BioNTech also dropped premarket, losing 4.1% and 5%, respectively. Colgate-Palmolive — The consumer products stock gained more than 1% in premarket trading after Stifel upgraded Colgate-Palmolive to buy from hold. The firm cited the stock's attractive valuation and the rapid and profitable growth of TAL's non-academic tutoring business as catalysts.

Persons: Jefferies, BioNTech, premarket, Morgan Stanley, Jim Ratcliffe, Jeffrey Stein, Dow, Charles Schwab, CNBC's Hakyung Kim, Jesse Pound, Tanaya Macheel, Michelle Fox Theobald, Lisa Han Organizations: Pfizer, Moderna, BioNTech, Colgate, Palmolive, Manchester United, Wall Street, . Rite, Dow Jones, Activision, Microsoft, TAL Education Group, UBS Locations: New Jersey

☆ Rite Aid stock is experiencing extreme turbulence: Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Shares of Rite Aid were slightly lower Monday after soaring more than 20% higher in morning trading. The steep swings come after Rite Aid saw its price of shares tumble Friday amid reports that the drug store chain was preparing to file for bankruptcy. Shares of Rite Aid (RAD) are down more than 91% since this time last year. Friday’s plunge came after The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reported that Rite Aid was preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Rite Aid is currently about $3.3 billion in debt and has been embroiled in a legal battle for allegedly filling unlawful opioid prescriptions.

Organizations: New, New York CNN, Rite Aid, Aid, Street Journal, Bloomberg, Justice, CNN, Purdue, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Department of Health, Human Services Locations: New York, Philadelphia, United States

When she checked availability of these pain- and fever-reducing meds this week, out of 40 products – different flavors, sizes and strengths – none was in stock. For kids over 2 months of age, there is no magic number at which a fever needs to be treated. She says this is a great option for kids who can’t keep food or liquids down, too. What not to doThere are also some important things not to do if you can’t find the medication you need. Also, lukewarm baths are OK, but it’s not a good idea to put a child with a fever into a cold bath, Ahmann says.

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