Looking back at the innovations of the past nine decades

NEW YORK — The industry came together last night at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to recognize the National Association of Chain Drug Stores for its long list of contributions to retailing and health care over the past nine decades.

The gala reception, which featured a Who’s Who in the chain drug industry, was sponsored by The Emerson Group along with Chain Drug Review and Drug Store News. Other sponsors included: Haleon, Hallmark, iA, Kimberly-Clark, CeraVe and AARP.

Scott Emerson

NACDS’ 90th anniversary event celebrated NACDS and the industry leaders (past and present) across retail channels who have impacted community health care over the last 90 years and helped transform pharmacy into a health care destination.

Past industry pioneers  and former NACDS chairs were honored such as George Gales, Liggett Drug Co., C.R. Walgreen, Walgreen Co., James Harrison, Jr., Harco Drug and L.S. Skaggs, Skaggs Drug Centers and Sydney Besthoff, K&B, were honored posthumously in a video tribute. Scott Emerson, founder and CEO of the Emerson Group, introduced the video.

Current retailers who spoke at the program included: Stefano Pessina, executive chairman, Walgreens Boots Alliance; Musab Balbale, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer at CVS; Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health; Robert (Bob) Narveso, former president and CEO and current board chairman at Thrifty White; Kevin Host, SVP of Pharmacy at Walmart; and Richard Stephens, SVP of Pharmacy at Costco Wholesale Corp. Steve Anderson, president and chief executive officer of the National Association also spoke, as did CHPA president and CEO Scott Melville. The program was emceed by Mike Wysong, chief executive officer of CARE Pharmacies and NACDS’ current chairman, and Lisa Paley, president of Haleon’s North American business.

The December issue of Chain Drug Review featured a 56-page in-depth report (the story begins on page 11), put together in collaboration with Drug Store News and presented by the Emerson Group, about the history and accomplishments of NACDS, and how they fit into the evolution of retailing in America.