Known as the place to pick up your meds along with those “few extra things,” drug stores are now exerting extra effort to compete with online retail giants, accommodate consumers’ growing health needs and demands, and leveraging technology to enhance their offerings.

Rounding out the Top 3 was that HOT Canned Coffee, New York, announced that its grab-and-go HOTSHOT hot coffees and hot chocolate now are available on Amazon.com.

As of July, the Google Play store and the Apple App Store each offered more than 1.5 million apps for download, according to Statista. There’s pretty much an app to make just about anything easier and more convenient.

Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Arlington, Va., released its annual “U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends” study in collaboration with the Hartman Group, Bellevue, Wash.

PwC, New York, released a new experience radar report titled “Front of the Line: How grocers can get ahead for the future.”

Heineken USA, White Plains, N.Y., announced its new “Bring Your Sunday Best” retail program featuring its Heineken, Dos Equis, Newcastle Brown Ale, Strongbow Cider and Tecate brands.

U.S. retail and consumer merger and acquisition activity during the first quarter of 2013 was defined by six multibillion dollar transactions and alternative deal structures employed to achieve strategic objectives, according to New York-based PwC’s U.S. retail and consumer deals insights Q1 2013 report.