Fred’s Inc. Taps Bryan Pugh

Less than three months after naming former CVS and Family Dollar executive Mike Bloom to the role of president and chief operating officer of Fred’s Inc., the company is once again dipping into the chain drugstore for a talent. This time it is Bryan Pugh, the former vice president of U.S. merchandising, program developing and executive at Walgreens Co. He joins Bloom at Fred’s as chief merchandising and marketing officer. Fred’s said Pugh’s role will be to develop new merchandising and marketing strategies and processes as well as enhance current ones. He’s also being charged with finding avenues to encourage more of Fred’s pharmacy customers to shop the front of the store, including beauty. Pugh has more than 30 years of retail experience. “Working together with Mike Bloom, our president and chief operating officer, we are now assembling a solid, experienced management team that complements our pharmacy team to drive growth in market share and improve profitability,” Fred’s chief executive officer Jerry Shore said in a statement. Fred’s also said it will acquire Reeves-Sain Drug Store, Inc., a family-owned business, as part of a $66 million transaction. The agreement was for EntrustRx, a specialty pharmacy in the Southeast region, and the Reeves-Sain retail

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More...