Democrats in Congress and critics from other quarters wasted little time in raising concerns about CVS Health’s landmark acquisition of Aetna. If finalized, the $77 billion transaction, which includes the assumption of debt, would bring the pharmacy innovation company — with 9,700 drug stores, 1,100 walk-in medical clinics and a pharmacy benefits management division serving
Many people in the retail sector are hailing the Republican-led drive in Congress to reform the nation’s tax code. Several industry groups were quick to praise the House of Representatives’ passage — in a 227 to 205 vote along party lines earlier this month — of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. “We
The holiday selling season has arrived, and it promises to be a memorable one for several reasons. A decade after the financial crisis that triggered the Great Recession, the U.S. economy has finally stabilized, with low unemployment and strong growth. Those conditions have led retail industry watchers to predict solid sales increases over the next
Albertsons Cos.’ decision to acquire Plated, one of the leaders in the burgeoning meal kit service business, is further evidence of the ferment in the nation’s grocery sector and the company’s determination to capitalize on the changes under way that are transforming the industry. Established in 2012, Plated leverages technology and data to give consumers
ZAANDAM, Netherlands — A year after the merger that brought Ahold Delhaize into being, the company shows every sign of delivering on the promise that led to the deal. Strong second quarter results, released last month, reflect an organization that is effectively leveraging its newfound scale to operate more efficiently, develop synergies and capitalize on
Recent moves by retailing giants that will impact the way consumers obtain goods and services have received a great deal of attention from people both inside and outside the industry. Walmart’s new partnership with Google to offer voice-activated shopping, and the completion of Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods Market and the immediate push to start
The e-commerce blitzkrieg that has transformed the retail landscape in so many merchandise categories has yet to upend the grocery business, but signs are emerging that Web-based merchants involved in the sector are steadily gaining traction. A new report from sales and marketing firm Acosta indicates that, while most people still prefer to shop for
In some respects, Amazon is a hard company to categorize. When it opened for business a little over two decades ago it was an online seller of books. Since then Amazon has, among other things, expanded its e-commerce platform to include a broad spectrum of consumer products; launched a line of electronic readers, tablets and
News about Amazon once again shook up the mass retailing community when stories emerged last month that the e-commerce company is setting its sights on the retail pharmacy sector. As first reported by CNBC, Amazon, after years of gauging its prospects in the prescription drug business, is finally taking the initial steps toward a possible
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Many of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores’ considerable strengths were on display at the organization’s Annual Meeting here last month. During the four-day event at the Phoenician resort, which brought together 2,250 executives from 400 companies representing the full spectrum of stakeholders in chain pharmacy, the deep involvement of members,
Jet.com has a knack for shaking things up. The upstart e-commerce company, which was launched by a group headed by Marc Lore in July 2015 and a little over a year later sold to Walmart for $3.3 billion, is making its first foray into brick-and-mortar retailing, and, true to form, it is doing so in
The established order in mass market retailing has been shaken in recent years by the emergence and increasing prominence of Amazon and other e-commerce alternatives to brick-and-mortar stores. Online merchants continue to make inroads in one category after another — everything from books, (the foundation of Amazon’s business) and home entertainment to apparel and groceries.