Distribution

Zug, Switzerland -- Swiss drugstore chain Alliance Boots said Monday it has acquired a 12% stake in Chinese pharmaceutical wholesaler Nanjing Pharmaceutical Co. for $88.5 million.

The deal follows Walgreen Co.’s $7 billion investment in Alliance Boots in a move to expand into China.

Alliance Boots runs the largest drugstore chain in the United Kingdom.

Walgreen’s initial plan is to acquire about 45% of Alliance Boots with an option to buy the rest of the company in three years.

NIWOT, Colo. — Casual footwear brand, Crocs, has announced that Dale Bathum has been appointed chief product officer, Mike DeBell has been named chief sales officer and Doug Hayes has taken the role of president of the Americas market. As chief product officer, Bathum will be responsible for overseeing ideation, design, development and introduction of Crocs products to the international marketplace, while DeBell will lead all Crocs global sales offices and direct-to-consumer sales in the role of chief sales officer.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens announced plans to close more than half of the stores it is acquiring in its deal with USA Drug.

The company — which said in July it would purchase the mid-South drug store chain for approximately $438 million — confirmed it would close approximately 76 stores across the region. USA Drug operates 144 stores under the USA Drug, Super D Drug, May's Drug, Med-X and Drug Warehouse banners.

New Delhi, India -- India’s government said Thursday that it has OK’d plans to permit foreign retailers to open stores that sell more than one brand, paving the way for retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores and Carrefour SA to expand their presence in the country.

The approved plan calls for overseas companies to put half of their investment in infrastructure such as processing, manufacturing, storage, warehouses and packaging.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens announced plans to close more than half of the stores it is acquiring in its deal with USA Drug.

The company — which said in July it would purchase the mid-South drug store chain for approximately $438 million — confirmed it would close approximately 76 stores across the region. USA Drug operates 144 stores under the USA Drug, Super D Drug, May's Drug, Med-X and Drug Warehouse banners.

An expanded offering of private label pet care products will be coming soon to retailers shelves following the acquisition of Sergeants Pet Care Products by Perrigo, the leading global provider of store brand health and personal care items.

Perrigo said it signed a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Sergeant’s, a privately held Omaha-based company, for $285 million in an all cash deal that enables Perrigo to enter the $8 billion pet care market.

BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Walmart boosted its sustainable reputation Thursday with the announcement of a new solar initiative at its distribution center near Phoenix.

The retailer will outfit the DC with more than 14,000 solar panels -- making it Walmart's largest solar installation to date. The panels will cover the 1,000 sq. ft. building and parking canopies. The panels will produce up to 30% of the center's energy needs and generate up to 5.3 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year, according to Walmart.

Dallas -- Fast-casual bakery concept Corner Bakery Café said Thursday it has executed a deal with a franchise group to open the chain’s first restaurants in the Pacific Northwest beginning in 2013.

Northwest Bakery Cafe, a group of restaurant operators that owns 95 Jack in the Box locations, is slated to open 18 Corner Bakery franchised restaurants in and around Seattle over the next seven years.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday it has launched an expansion of its solar initiative in Arizona at its Buckeye distribution center near Phoenix.

According to the retailer, the distribution center will feature Walmart's largest solar installation to date with over 14,000 solar panels on a 1 million-sq.-ft. building and parking canopies that will produce up to 30% of the DC’s energy needs.

The solar panels will generate up to 5.3 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year.

Boston-based City Sports names Edward Albertian as president and CEO

The 21 store chain said Albertian had joined the company after serving the prior seven years as president and CEO of Trans National Group.