{"id":2411,"date":"2014-09-05T00:00:58","date_gmt":"2014-09-05T00:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=2411"},"modified":"2014-09-05T00:04:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-05T00:04:00","slug":"cvs-pulls-all-tobacco-products-changes-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pepesnonsmokingpartytimelounge.com\/?p=2411","title":{"rendered":"CVS pulls all tobacco products, changes name"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"lockup_fnalv6\"<\/a> As the company announced a few months ago, CVS went ahead this week<\/a> and pulled all tobacco products off its shelves — and changed its name to CVS Health in conjunction with this move. However, CVS, the second largest drug store company in the U.S., made the decision more quickly than they announced they would.<\/a> It was supposed to happen in October, but they went ahead and made the change shortly after Labor Day. CVS is expected to lose up to $2 billion a year in retail sales, but this move is also part of a “rebranding” for the chain \u00a0to become more of a health care provider, rather than a general drug store with film development, candy, office supplies, etc. So, the company is looking to make up for those losses by making more money on health care services, products, etc. This is according to the New York Times<\/p>\n

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The decision to stop selling cigarettes is a strategic move as pharmacies across the country jockey for a piece of the growing health care industry. Rebranding itself as a company focused on health could prove lucrative for the drugstore as it seeks to appeal to medical partners that can help it bridge the gap between customers and their doctors.<\/p>\n