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The Hidden Gem of Wholesale: Why BJ's Wholesale Club Stands Out in a Sea of Giants

David Joyner is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CVS Health, having taken over from Karen Lynch in late 2024.

As President and CEO, Joyner oversees more than 300,000 employees. CVS Health impacts the lives of over 100 million people through its healthcare and pharmacy benefits services.

The company operates in more than 9,000 community health locations across the United States.

CVS Health reported an annual revenue of approximately $372.81 billion for fiscal year 2024, with trailing twelve months revenue reaching $386.64 billion as of June 30, 2025.

CVS Health positions itself as a human-centered health-care company, integrating pharmacy, insurance, and retail services to support people on their path to better health.

Its brand philosophy is rooted in the mission to “deliver superior, connected experiences, lower the cost of care, and improve the health and well-being of those we serve.” This is expressed visually through the heart logo and the brand personality “Leading with heart,” which conveys empathy, integrity, and accountability in every touchpoint.

Operationally, CVS fulfills its purpose through the ACE framework:

  • Authority – Health & Wellness
  • Convenience – Everyday
  • Engagement – On all channels

 

CVS Health is curating assortments and services that strengthen its position as a trusted health partner, not just a drugstore.

In the rapidly evolving retail landscape, the company distinguishes itself through innovation, seamlessly integrating pharmacy, wellness, and personalized care into a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem.

Tilak Mandadi, Executive Vice President of Ventures and Chief Experience and Technology Officer, oversees digital and technology strategies, driving growth and innovation through consumer-facing, digital-driven experiences.

Chandra McMahon, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), leads CVS Health’s cybersecurity efforts, guiding enterprise-wide strategy, governance, risk management, and operations to safeguard data and reduce threats.

This digital-first strategy, supported by intuitive workflows for faster care, positions CVS as the “modern general store”, where convenience meets comprehensive health solutions.

CVS Health’s Top Technology Partners in 2025 

CVS Health partners with multiple technology leaders to accelerate its digital transformation, AI integration, and cloud management initiatives. This collaboration is part of a $20 billion investment aimed at building a tech-enabled consumer health experience, with a strong focus on data sharing across its ecosystem and beyond.

Key partners include, but are not limited to, Microsoft, Google Cloud, Salesforce, and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

  1. Accenture serves as a strategic consulting and technology partner for CVS Health, focusing on digital transformation, AI implementation, and operational efficiency in healthcare IT. Accenture supports CVS in improving interoperability, developing AI-powered healthcare solutions, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
  2. Infosys partners with CVS Health as an IT provider, delivering services in application development, IT infrastructure management, cloud migration, AI-powered analytics, and cybersecurity. Its work helps modernize legacy systems, improve patient engagement, and maintain HIPAA compliance. Public data from Infosys highlights its collaboration with CVS in boosting IT delivery capacity for Aetna.
  3. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) also serves as an IT service provider for CVS Health. While specific partnership details are not publicly disclosed, TCS primarily supports integration services and provides overall IT support.
  4. Cognizant plays a significant role in CVS Health’s IT landscape, delivering digital transformation services aimed at healthcare innovation. Its contributions include modernizing legacy systems, applying AI/ML-driven analytics for claims processing and fraud detection, and collaborating with hyperscalers to build scalable solutions.

 

Beyond technology, CVS Health has made bold moves, such as removing tobacco products from its shelves in 2014 and prioritizing health equity, strengthening its reputation as a trusted partner in everyday wellness, and fostering loyalty through affordability and accessibility.

By expanding beyond traditional retail into insurance and specialty services, CVS isn’t just selling products; it’s promoting healthier lives and reshaping retail’s role in community well-being.

CVS Health’s success is driven by its commitment to combining retail convenience with integrated healthcare services, ensuring affordability, access, and coordinated care for all patients.

Coupled with disciplined execution, governance, strong cash flow generation, and a culture focused on stakeholder value, CVS maintains market leadership even amid dynamic challenges.

As a brand reviewer, BrandSensitize™ research highlights that CVS is more than just a store; it’s a trusted partner in building a healthier future and a lifeline for the American healthcare system.

What’s your take on their journey?

Let’s discuss!

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Keith Nicks is EVP and Chief Digital & Commercial Officer for Ahold Delhaize USA, overseeing
omnichannel marketing, retail media, and e-commerce for U.S. brands. Tim Bork is the Chief Commercial
Officer for Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia, focusing on local brands and responsible for growth,
including marketing and customer experience.
With nearly €96 billion in projected 2025 revenue, Ahold Delhaize ranks among the top 10 global
retailers, operating over 6,700 stores across multiple formats, including Albert Heijn, Delhaize, Food Lion,
Giant, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop.
6,700 stores powered by one procurement platform – a scale that makes others jealous.
For customers, Ahold isn’t just a grocery retailer; it’s a trusted lifestyle partner that combines the
intimacy of local shopping with the innovation and value of global retail leadership.
Ahold’s brands, such as Albert Heijn, Stop & Shop, and Giant, represent 37 years of average customer
relationships—customers don’t just shop there; they grow up with these brands, creating emotional
connections that transcend transactions.
After gaining thirty million loyalty members, Ahold demonstrated that personalization consistently
outperforms promotion.
BrandSensitize™ research shows that Ahold Delhaize operates with a decentralized marketing and brand
building approach, where marketing functions are embedded within:

  • Brand-specific leadership (each local brand has its own marketing teams.
  • Regional commercial officers who oversee marketing alongside broader commercial
    responsibilities.
  • Digital and omnichannel specialists who handle modern marketing channels.
    Ahold Delhaize’s Brand Building Initiatives:
    Sustainability campaign: €50M investment reached 10M consumers, delivering a 20% boost in
    sustainable product sales and generating €400M in revenue.
    Digital Marketing: €150M digital budget achieved 25% higher engagement, 2.6% click-through rates (vs
    1.9% industry standard), and built 500K+ social media following.
    Loyalty Program: 30M members across brands with 85% customer penetration, driving 75% of total sales
    and contributing €1B annually—10% better retention than competitors.

Strategic Brand Partnerships: 100+ collaborative campaigns with CPG brands, including Coca-Cola,
generated €600M in additional revenue through joint promotions.
Omnichannel Investment: A $1 billion price investment initiative, combined with AI-powered
personalization, aims to achieve an 80% loyalty sales penetration by 2028.
Strategic marketing drives measurable business results—from sustainability messaging to digital-first
loyalty programs, Ahold Delhaize demonstrates that well-executed brand-building campaigns deliver
both customer engagement and bottom-line growth on a global scale.
Ahold Delhaize’s Strategic Technology Partnerships:

  • W23 Global VC Fund: $125M investment with Tesco, Woolworths & others backing AI startups
    like Harmonya & Protex AI
  • Zycus Partnership: Source-to-Pay suite powering procurement across 6,700+ stores globally
  • Hanshow Technology: Electronic shelf labels + innovation labs across all European locations.
  • Inmar Intelligence: $141M in customer savings delivered through personalized digital coupons.
  • DoorDash Collaboration: Tripled order volumes through enhanced last-mile delivery integration.
  • Internal AI Innovation: MaxiGPT, LionGPT & Albot assistants deployed across the Serbian,
    Belgian, and Czech markets.
  • New Tech Studio: AD/01 in Bucharest targeting 250+ tech talents for digital acceleration.
    Zycus has licensed its comprehensive Source-to-Pay suite to Ahold Delhaize, including eSourcing,
    Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), and Supplier Management platforms.
    TCS’s relationship with Ahold Delhaize marks a mature, strategic partnership focused on digital
    transformation and supply chain technology.
    Wipro partnered with Capgemini as one of the most significant retail transformation initiatives in the
    world at Ahold USA.
    Capgemini powers Ahold Delhaize’s end-to-end transformation, developing blockchain technology use
    cases for Ahold Delhaize’s supply chain and leveraging its expertise in business transformation, as well as
    its understanding of Ahold’s industry and operations.
    Traditional retailers, equipped with AI and Robotics, will surpass pure digital players by 2030.
    The key is to position Ahold not as just another retail success story, but as the company that has
    rewritten the rules of digital transformation for every traditional business watching.