Pharmacy Business

DENVER -- A three judge panel in the 10th Circuit federal appeals court here has overturned a 1999 ruling that Wal-Mart broke labor laws by not compensating its pharmacists for overtime work, according to published reports. The reversal of the ruling virtually guarantees a long trial, unless the parties reach a settlement.

WASHINGTON -- Technology, e-prescribing, the new Medicare drug benefit, and business-building opportunities are just a few of the topics that will be covered at the 18th Annual Supermarket Pharmacy Conference, to be held April 9 to April 12 in New Orleans. Hosted by the Food Marketing Institute, the conference will offer pharmacy representatives a global look at current health care issues, as well as an opportunity to review future challenges.

HOWARD, Wisc. -- Discount store operator ShopKo Stores has officially entered the big-box drug business here with the grand opening of ShopKo Express Rx, a neighborhood drug store featuring pharmacy and typical front-end categories, as well as an expanded food assortment several non-traditional special services.

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Robert B. Wegman has donated $5 million to be used for the creation of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College.

BOISE, Idaho - Pharmacy sections in Colorado Albertsons stores will start using the Sav-on Drugs name in a rebranding strategy launched this month. Albertsons-owned Sav-on also has freestanding locations in 15 states, although none in Colorado, and the grocer has no current plans to open any.

CAMP HILL, Pa. - Rite Aid Corp., the third-largest U.S. drug store chain, based here, warned yesterday that its fiscal 2005 results would fall below expectations if current sales trends continue. Initially its shares tumbled 10 percent following the announcement, but they closed yesterday at $3.42, a 6.04 percent drop from the day before.

BOISE, Idaho - Albertsons, Inc. has been hit by a suit from San Diego, Calif.-based consumer advocacy group Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, which accuses the retailer of selling prescription information to drug companies without informing customers.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart is launching 24-hour pharmacies at five stores, to test the concept.