Haggen Expands Pharmacy Management Team

Haggen has expanded its pharmacy management team from six to 28 members to better support its growing network of stores.

The Bellingham, Wash.-based chain is in the process of converting 146 stores acquired from the Safeway-Albertsons merger, 106 of which contain pharmacies. The retailer's growing pharmacy business will include 470 pharmacists and technicians.

Guy DiPasqua, corporate SVP, pharmacy, will continue to lead Haggen's pharmacy operations. He joined the company in 2012 after 25 years at Albertsons and six at Target.

Two division VP's, Mike Arndorfer, formerly director of pharmacy, and Stewart Edington, who joined Haggen in March, will report to DiPasqua.

Arndorfer will oversee the Pacific Northwest division, which includes 53 pharmacies in Washington and Oregon; Edington will helm the 53 pharmacies in the Pacific Southwest, which includes California, Arizona and Nevada.

"We want to make this transition a seamless experience for both our guests and our associates,” said DiPasqua. “While we’re making a lot of changes behind the scenes to our pharmacy management and point of sale systems, our pharmacies are staffed by the same great pharmacy associates who deliver the same great level of care."

The company said that Arndorfer and Edington will each hire two regional pharmacy managers, one of which will be Schontel Delaney, who will oversee the 36 pharmacies in Washington.

Haggen said it's currently looking to fill the additional regional pharmacy manager positions, seven pharmacy operations specialist jobs and other support positions.