Consumers gravitate toward traditional pharmacies for their everyday health-and-wellness needs, according to the "2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend" survey released Monday.

Despite running fewer stores, Rite Aid grew its sales and narrowed its losses during the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2012, thanks to a boost in its loyalty card program membership, a longer fiscal year and the continuing dispute between Walgreens and Express Scripts.

For the second month in a row, Target’s same-store sales were nearly double the expected amount.

Target has brought in someone with both advertising and retail experience to oversee its marketing efforts.

Former Walgreens' CEO Jeff Rein said profit pressure might cause Walgreens to think differently about acquisitions than it did in the past.

Specialty pharmacy provider BioScrip had sales of $483.3 million in fourth quarter 2011 and $1.8 billion in fiscal year 2011, the company said Friday.

Target is set to complete remodels for more than 100 general merchandise stores later this month, the retailer said. The remodeled Target stores will dedicate approximately 10,000 sq. ft. to a vast array of fresh food choices, including a curated assortment of fresh produce, fresh packaged meat and pre-packaged baked goods, in addition to dry and frozen offerings.

Target reported a 7% same-store sales increase in February that shattered the company’s guidance for a 4% gain, thanks to unseasonably warm weather, which boosted shopper traffic and transaction sizes.

"Integrated retail" was the dominant theme as executives discussed Kmart operator Sears Holdings' plans to restore confidence in the company after a fourth quarter 2011 that even the company's chief executive called "unacceptable" during an earnings call Thursday.

Retailers have always been about enhancing the shopping experience, but there are two factors this year that really should underscore the importance in that customer focus. Differentiating a retail shopping trip by experience is a lot friendlier to the margins because a shopper willing to trade on shopping experience also is willing to spend a little more. And with the proliferation of social media and apps for smartphones and tablets, there has never been a more efficient means to target a message to a shopper who is physically in the aisles and making a purchase decision than today.

Walmart isn’t about to let the grass grow under its feet in Canada.