LYNBROOK, NEW YORK, AUGUST 31, 2004 - CDS Companies has established a new strategic alliance with Leader Drug Stores to service their network of 3,100 market leader independent drug retailers.

CDS announces that it has teamed up with Leader Drug Stores to provide accounts receivable finance and management to independent drug stores for their house charge accounts. House charge accounts improve the ability of independent stores to offer an important feature for retaining customers and attracting new ones amidst the hyper competition with larger drug chains. CDS uniquely provides accounts receivable financing on the house charge accounts and provides complete billing services in the rear of the drug store.

Typically, a drug store’s most valuable customer is their house charge account customers. With CDS, they now have the ability to grow this valuable base and build a stronger business. “Having cash flow available for a drug store owner is the difference in making their business profitable” said Leonard Leff, President of CDS Companies. “CDS’s accounts receivable cash flow solutions allow drug stores to focus on growing their business while CDS takes care of their billing and cash flow.”

Leader Drug Stores are better-known independent drug stores located throughout the United States. They are more service oriented and are more in tune with their customers’ needs. “After speaking with our member stores, we found that a common request was to improve cash flow and increase customer loyalty,” said Ryan Mcaleer, Program Development Manager, for Leader Drug Stores.

According to John Herr, President and Owner of Town & Country Apothecary in Ridgewood, New Jersey, “having CDS allows me to reduce labor costs, maximize vendor discounting and grow my house charge customer base. All at a cost less than doing it in house.”

About Leader Drug Stores
Leader Drug Stores is a national network of more than 3,100 independently owned and operated community pharmacies. The Leader affiliation helps independent pharmacies to serve you with the resources of a large chain while continuing to offer the personalized, professional service and convenience of your favorite neighborhood pharmacy. For more information, visit www.myleader.com.