Press Release

CVS/pharmacy Enters Twin Cities and Makes a Three-Year Commitment to Children's Home Society & Family Services

Nation's Leading Drug Store Chain to open up to Ten Stores in the Twin Cities Area in 2004, Continuing Nationwide Expansion

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Sep 18, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --
CVS/pharmacy (NYSE: CVS), the nation's largest pharmacy retailer, continues its
nationwide expansion by opening its first stores in the Twin Cities area this
month. At today's grand opening celebration, CVS presented a $30,000 donation to
Children's Home Society & Family Services signifying a three-year commitment
to early childhood education in Minnesota.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040918/NYSA019 )

The donation to Children's Home Society & Family Services will help to
meet the needs of children and families in the Twin Cities area. "This generous
donation from CVS will have a great and lasting effect in supporting many
families in our Twin Cities communities by providing them with high-quality,
developmental child care for the next three years," said Madonna W. King,
President & CEO of Children's Home Society & Family Services.

CVS expects to open a total of eight to 10 stores in the Twin Cities between
now and the end of the year, providing Minnesota consumers with access to the
easiest pharmacy experience in the United States. The first stores are now open
at 4241 Johnny Cake Ridge Road in Eagan and 2017 Coon Rapids Boulevard in Coon
Rapids.

"We believe our new store openings in the Twin Cities market will introduce a
new retail pharmacy experience in this part of the country, and we look forward
to serving our new customers in Minnesota with the best possible pharmacy
service," said Mike Talbot, area vice president for CVS Corporation.

During today's celebration at the Eagan location, the first 500 CVS customers
received $10 gift cards and Betty Zeyen of Eagan, Minn. won a free trip to the
destination of her choice.

CVS' entry into the Twin Cities market exemplifies the company's continued
growth strategy involving high-growth pharmacy markets. CVS recently acquired
1,260 Eckerd stores, mainly in the southern United States. This acquisition
creates the nation's leading pharmacy retailer with stores in 36 states and the
District of Columbia, and a $2 billion PBM/mail order pharmacy business serving
approximately 30 million lives.

CVS is committed to easy, convenient service, with prescriptions ready when
promised. CVS accepts virtually all prescription plans and its pharmacists are
always available to help with any questions or concerns.

"We have conducted extensive research to understand the shopping needs of
pharmacy customers, and our new stores provide an inviting and easy store
experience that is unlike any other drug store," said Helena Foulkes, senior
vice president of advertising and marketing for CVS Corporation. "We feel
confident that consumers in the Twin Cities area will welcome the convenience
and value CVS offers shoppers and, most important, they will welcome our
commitment to the highest level of pharmacy care and service."

All CVS stores in the Twin Cities market will feature a simple, intuitive
store layout, clean and wide aisles, and well-stocked shelves boasting a
comprehensive array of product categories to ensure customers can find
everything they need, from beauty and health products to greeting cards to the
latest in digital photo developing technology.

CVS' broad selection of merchandise features top national brands such as
L'Oreal, Revlon, Hallmark, Kodak and Johnson & Johnson, as well as a variety
of high-quality, exclusive CVS products, such as Lumene beauty products from
Finland. CVS also offers a broad range of CVS-brand products that will offer
Minnesotans outstanding quality and value.

In addition, CVS will give Minnesota customers access to the largest and most
successful customer loyalty program in the country. The CVS ExtraCare card
program gives CVS customers two percent back on most purchases. The ExtraCare
program also earns customers money back on each prescription they fill. There
are currently 50 million ExtraCare cardholders nationwide.