Pharmacy

Helped in no small measure by its still-burgeoning food sales, particularly in the perimeter, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. said yesterday that June 2008 sales soared by 18.8 percent to $1.05 billion, from $887 million in the year-ago period. June 2008 comparable-club sales jumped by 16.5 percent, including a contribution from sales of gas worth 8.2 percent. The company attributed merchandise comparable-club sales growth of 8.3 percent to a higher-than-expected mix of low-margin consumable items such as paper products, HBC, and household chemicals.

Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) said Friday that retail sales within the U.S. consumer packaged goods health and wellness industry reached $102.75 billion in 2007, representing growth of 15 percent over 2006.