Content about Rite Aid

NEW YORK — The flu may drive consumers to bed, but drug store sales are expected to benefit from an increase in flu activity, according to a Credit Suisse research note.

Credit Suisse research analyst Edward Kelly on Monday noted that as Walgreens and Rite Aid would report their monthly sales on March 3, comparable pharmacy sales would be driven by increased flu activity.

NEW YORK — The Skin Cancer Foundation's Road to Healthy Skin Tour, presented by Aveeno and Rite Aid, hits the road once again in March, providing free full-body skin cancer screenings and informing the public on the latest skin cancer information.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Responding to reports of a shingles vaccine shortage, Rite Aid is assuring customers that nearly 1,900 of its pharmacies have an ample supply.

Rite Aid noted that it can provide vaccinations against the nerve disease in 27-of-the-31 states where its stores are located, and in most of the states where Rite Aid operates, pharmacists can administer the vaccine to walk-in patients ages 60 years and older.

CHICAGO — With many businesses implementing customer reward programs to drive sales, it seems that the ones that promise everyday value and rewards fare better than their counterparts, according to new research.

The Recommendation Index, conducted by marketing agency Zocalo Group and M/A/R/C Research, analyzed 1,000 reward program participants, who were asked about brands they most often positively and negatively recommended, and the attributes they used to make their recommendations.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — According to the National Retail Federation, the average person will spend more than $116 on Valentine’s Day, and shoppers will spend 11% more at flower shops, candy stores and retailers this year than last year.

Retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid said Monday it would be ready to sell chocolates, stuffed animals, trinkets and cards to last-minute shoppers.

These include Valentine’s Day cards for students and such novelty gifts as key chains, Lotto for Lovers scratch cards and bags of chocolate hearts for less than $1.

SALT LAKE CITY — “Biggest Loser” trainer Jillian Michaels continues to dominate flab on the small screen and at the diet shelf, too. Last month’s NBC mid-season premier captured 9 million viewers, up 14% from its previous season end, according to published reports. And Jillian Michaels diet aids garnered $20.8 million, up 273.7%, for the 52 weeks ended Dec. 26, 2010, according to SymphonyIRI Group data across food, drug and mass (excluding Walmart).


NEW YORK — The Motley Fool on Tuesday suggested all three national pureplay drug chains were in a better position today than five and three years ago based on a metric called the “cash king margin.”

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Monday sweetened the pot for those loyalty card members braving the cold and visiting the pharmacy in February.

With the purchase of $100 or more of specially marked products throughout the store, Rite Aid’s Wellness+ cardholders can earn a $20 +Up Reward, and at the same time be automatically entered into a sweepstakes featuring more than $100,000 in prizes, as part of Rite Aid's new Winter Rewards Program through Feb. 26.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Tuesday announced its partnership with BL Body, a collection of shape wear available exclusively in Rite Aid stores, on a sweepstakes with a first prize trip for two to the location of the reality program “The Biggest Loser.”

Rite Aid is taking sweepstake entries through Jan. 22 for the $4,000-grand prize. Second prize is a year's membership for two to the Biggest Loser Club online weight-loss program, a $479 value.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid last week sweetened the pot associated with its loyalty card.

Rite Aid customers who use their Wellness+ card between Dec. 28, 2010, and Jan. 22 will be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a dream vacation, fitness equipment, personal electronics and more as part of a new reward program created by Rite Aid called Resolution Rewards.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Rite Aid is a glass-half-full/glass-half-empty kind of company. If your glass is half full, you’re looking at the sequential improvements in pharmacy margins and front-end comps, and the excitement around the chain’s still-new Wellness+ loyalty program. If your glass is half empty, you’re making note of the seven straight quarters of script declines and the fact that Rite Aid had to lower sales projections … again. Our glass is half full.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — What Rite Aid might wish for Christmas is accelerated results borne from its Wellness+ loyalty card program, because even as the chain lowered its guidance for fiscal 2011 sales, it’s that differentiated loyalty program that executives believe is going to buttress sales next year and beyond.