Royal Ahold has hired Hanneke Faber as chief commercial officer as part of a new executive committee leadership structure that the Dutch supermarket operator said would allow it to accelerate its "reshaping retail" business strategy by simplifying governance structure and decision making.

Consumer packaged goods companies and retailers that sell their products have managed to stay strong despite economic difficulty, according to a new report.

During the 2013 HBW conference held in San Antonio, from May 31 to June 3, one of the most anticipated events by attendees was The Showcase venue, which gave suppliers an opportunity to highlight their innovative new products or packaging to retailers and wholesalers attending the event.

Retailers are increasingly recognizing that technology is key to driving growth and bolstering customer engagement, and research suggests that companies take an omnichannel approach to reach shoppers in today’s challenging environment plagued by changing consumer confidence and high national unemployment rates, according to recent research.

Coca-Cola announced last week a new quartet of athletes, including two Olympic champions, a world-class legend and a Paralympic hopeful, who will represent the brand for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Retail sales are up nearly 5% from one year ago, according to the latest numbers from the Department of Commerce.

The number of U.S. retail health clinics is projected to double by 2015 because of the increasing demand of newly insured patients under healthcare reform, according to new a report released on Wednesday by Accenture ACN at the annual America's Health Insurance Plans Institute 2013 in Las Vegas.

Empowered Products on Tuesday announced the successful introduction of its intimacy health personal lubricants Pink and GunOil into mass retail outlets.

I couldn’t let this week go by without noting the passing of another of the hugely talented, but low-profile retail innovators who made the chain drug store industry the powerhouse it is today.

As Drug Store News reported June 5, Stephen LaFrance died unexpectedly last Wednesday at the age of 71. LaFrance’s passing came less than nine months after he sold his powerhouse regional pharmacy business, USA Drug, to rival Walgreens for $438 million. So, sadly, he didn’t get much chance to relax and enjoy the harvest of a lifetime of hard work in the drug store industry.

LaFrance never sought the limelight as a business leader or health professional, preferring to toil quietly but successfully in the shadow of Walmart and other national retailers. So he may be unknown to many pharmacists and pharmacy students.

To LaFrance, that lack of renown never mattered much. His is a remarkable, rags-to-riches success story in pharmacy, retailing and wholesaling, and it would make a good case study in any pharmacy school business curriculum.

Cutex has announced the availability of its Advanced Revival formula at Five Below retail stores across the United States.

The Mack Elevation Forum and the Drug Store News Group will co-host an exclusive, one-day summit event on Aug. 9, at the Westin Hotel, in Las Vegas, as a special kickoff for Total Store Expo. Assembling some of the top minds in retail, "The Elevation Forum: The Seven Ideas to Create the Future," will give attendees a grasp of emerging industry best practices in strategic sales, marketing, merchandising and retail consumer packaged goods strategy.

When did providing customer service become an inconvenience for some retail staff?" asks Hamacher Group's Dave Wendland. "Too often I have witnessed reluctance on the part of shoppers to seek help — and if they do, it almost always begins with, 'Sorry for interrupting, but …' Think about that. 'Sorry for interrupting' what?