Retail

A judge has ordered CVS Caremark to reinstate a provider agreement with independent pharmacy Hopkinton Drug.

Galaxy Development of Auburn said it's looking to turn an abandoned industrial site along Fitchburg's Water Street into a 21,650-square-foot shopping center.

Wegmans supermarkets has come out on top in a poll of grocery store brand names in the Northeast, according to the Harris organization, which conducted a nationwide study of the most popular grocery store brands in four different regions of the United States. Wegmans, whose first New England store opened in 2011 in Northborough, has about 80 stores, mostly in Pennsylvania and its home state of New York. While that may be fewer than other grocery store chains, Wegmans' ratings in the survey “make them look like a regional David among national-brand Goliaths," says Michael Treboni, executive vice president of retail professional services at Nielsen, the parent of Harris.

Boston-based mobile software company Drizly is working hard to make doorstep alcohol delivery the latest convenience for consumers living in a push-button world, and the MetroWest suburbs are its latest frontier. The startup offers its mobile app to retail liquor stores in four major cities, including Chicago, New York City (plus the Hamptons) and Los Angeles. But bringing the services to MetroWest towns that include Natick and Wayland, to start, will test the viability of the Drizly app on suburbanites, a departure from the urban dwellers Drizly has catered to since launching last year.

Staples has completed its acquisition of a Canadian digital media firm that the Framingham-based office supplies retailer said would broaden its online offerings and functionality for its business customers. In a statement, Staples said it acquired all shares of PNI Digital Media of Vancouver for $1.70 (Canadian) per share ($1.58 US). Staples said PNI's stock will be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange and the OTC QB marketplace later this week.

The union representing Massachusetts public school teachers announced a boycott of Framingham-based Staples on Monday to protest the opening of U.S. Postal Service retail centers inside company stores.

Independent pharmacy Hopkinton Drug is taking CVS Caremark to task in court, after the pharmacy benefits manager moved to end a contract that could devastate the Main Street business.

Ballot activists can start getting their slogans on now that this year's statewide ballot questions – all of which have implications for business - have been assigned numbers.

If you were planning to make the trip into the city or open your shop for the extra foot traffic Thursday brought in by the lure of July 4th fireworks, you have a couple of extra days.

Worcester Crossing, the Route 146 retail plaza that opened in 2012 and is anchored by Walmart and Sam's Club, has sold for $49 million, according to a statement from the buyer.