Walgreen Co.

The much anticipated approval for the Walgreens/Rite Aid merger, through which Walgreens has proposed to pay $9.4 billion for the acquisition of Rite Aid's 4,547 stores in an effort to bolster its national footprint, did not happen by Friday morning as many had speculated.    Now there is a new countdown clock — the deal is set to expire Jan. 27 if not approved before that time.  

FedEx Corp. and Walgreens on Wednesday announced a long-term alliance agreement that will offer convenient access to FedEx dropoff and pickup services at thousands of Walgreens locations across the United States beginning within the next several months.  

Walgreens has joined the ranks of retailers working to get merchandise ordered online into customers’ hands faster.    The drugstore chain has launched a ship-to-store program that offers free shipping to a Walgreens or Duane Reade store for orders made on the chain’s website and mobile app. No minimum purchase is required.    

Walgreens on Tuesday enticed its shoppers with a new loyalty program tied to its beauty department with the launch of Beauty Enthusiast, a beauty club within its Balance Rewards loyalty program. Cardholders who register for Beauty Enthusiast gain additional rewards on beauty and personal care items, as well as other benefits.  

Walgreens is ready to shutter up to 1,000 stores, but no one is biting.   In accordance with the closing of its deal to purchase Rite Aid, the Walgreens Boots Alliance must sell or close between 500 and 1,000 of its stores. However, there is a lack of interest among private equity firms, according to an Investopedia article.   Walgreens still expects to move forward with the Rite Aid acquisition, which is slated to close in the second half of this year, the article said.  

Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has appointed Bryan Pugh to the newly created position of executive VP, stores and store operations. He will lead financial, operational and cultural leadership of Jo-Ann Stores.
    
Pugh joins Jo-Ann from Fred’s Pharmacy & Super Dollar where he served as executive VP, chief merchandising and marketing officer. His experience also includes serving as senior VP, chief merchandising officer at Walgreen Co. in addition to several roles of increasing responsibility at Tesco.
 

Chain Store Age unveils its first-ever SPECS/2017 Ambassadors Club, created to recognize 12 retailers who have made significant contributions to the industry and to SPECS, the annual Retail Event for Store Innovation. Produced by CSA, SPECS is attended by retail and food-service executives involved in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of stores and restaurants nationwide.    

Chain Store Age announced the selection of the Advisory Board for SPECS/2017, the annual retail event for store innovation produced by CSA and attended by retail and food-service executives involved in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of stores and restaurants nationwide.     Now in its 53rd year, SPECS will host its 2017 conference in Orlando, Florida, at the Gaylord Palms, March 12-14. The event will focus on what’s next, and what is shaping the future of retail.  

Walgreens on Thursday announced the company will discontinue operations of drugstore.com and Beauty.com in favor of focusing on its core online property Walgreens.com.