Content about Rite Aid

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid will sponsor a flu vaccination clinic at New York's Grand Central Terminal to help prevent flu and raise money for a charity for families affected by 9/11, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

The "Rite Aid Shield Yourself, New York" event will take place at Grand Central's Vanderbilt Hall on Wednesday and Thursday, from the morning through the evening, with pharmacists on hand to administer shots.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid same-store sales increased by 1.3% in September, compared with September 2010, the company said Thursday.

During the four-week period that ended Saturday, front-end same-store sales were down 0.5%, though pharmacy same-store sales increased 2.1%, including a 143-basis point negative effect from new generic introductions.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid announced Wednesday the launch of the first extension of its Wellness+ loyalty card program.

Offered free to members, Wellness+ for Diabetes is described as a multifaceted program that offers exclusive resources and savings to people living with diabetes and their caregivers.

HOUSTON — American Medical ID has expanded its reach by offering its medical identification bracelets and necklaces at three major drug stores.

The company said that beginning this month, its products now are available at 5,800 CVS locations, 7,200 Walgreens locations and 4,800 Rite Aid locations.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid announced Tuesday that its charitable arm has donated funds and filtration masks to the American Red Cross to benefit ongoing relief and recovery efforts in communities across south central Pennsylvania that were affected by Tropical Storm Lee.

The Rite Aid Foundation donated $15,000 to the south central Pennsylvania region of the American Red Cross, in addition to 10,000 filtration masks, as requested by the American Red Cross.

Rite Aid operates 71 pharmacies and employs more than 4,370 people in south central Pennsylvania.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — The use of over-the-counter medicines as a cost savings tool is catching on, of all places, at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Certain plans under Medicare are utilizing a new prepaid card of sorts to allow members to pay for their OTC medicines. Medicaid administrators, meanwhile, are employing that same card to incentivize healthier behavior among its members.

GREAT NECK, N.Y. — i-Star Entertainment has introduced FyrFlyz, a new bow-tie-shaped spinning toy on a string.

Featuring multicolored LED lights that spin while attached to a short string, FyrFlyz create unique lighted patterns and challenges kids ages 8 years and up to perform tricks, shows and expand their imagination, the company said. FyrFlyz, available in a variety of colors, is about 3 in. long and features an on/off switch.

LINGLESTOWN, Pa. — The Rite Aid here in Linglestown, Pa. now features eight linear feet of get-fit products just outside of its GNC store-within-a-store space. The set features Zon Fitness' products almost exclusively, from resistance tubes and ankle/wrist weights to balance boards and training balls. Retail pricing ranges from $4.99 to $34.99, with most products available for less than $20. If successful, the set might further establish pharmacy as the comprehensive destination point for all elements involving health.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's philanthropic arm is donating $50,000 to Hurricane Irene relief efforts, Rite Aid said Wednesday.

The retail pharmacy chain said the Rite Aid Foundation was making the donation to the American Red Cross, in addition to donations of baby formula, personal hygiene products, first aid and cleaning supplies to several nonprofit organizations in New York and Vermont — areas that were particularly affected by the hurricane.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Same-store sales at Rite Aid increased by 2.5% for the month of August compared with August 2010, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

This included a 2.9% increase in front-end same-store sales — including 1.5% coming from sales related to Hurricane Irene — and a 2.3% increase in pharmacy same-store sales, offset by 132 basis points, due to new generic introductions.

NEW YORK — By the time sales figures for August are tallied, last week's Hurricane Irene may have flooded more than the East Coast seaboard; she may have flooded pharmacy registers, too.