Content about Rite Aid

August 17, 2012

Online Groupons for health services? Doctors and hospitals sharing patient data and treatment goals with retail clinics, pharmacies and urgent care centers? Hospitals luring patients with inviting atriums and indoor waterfalls?

Online Groupons for health services? Doctors and hospitals sharing patient data and treatment goals with retail clinics, pharmacies and urgent care centers? Hospitals luring patients with inviting atriums and indoor waterfalls? It’s all part of a wave of “retailization” as the nation’s transforming health system emerges from behind the walls of hospitals, labs and doctors’ offices, and repositions itself as a more retail-oriented, patient-friendly network of care.


August 16, 2012

Members of Rite Aid's loyalty card program will have special reward points added to their cards automatically starting next month, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Members of Rite Aid's loyalty card program will have special reward points added to their cards automatically starting next month, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Beginning Sept. 2, Wellness+ members will have +UPs loaded to their cards automatically. +UPs are special rewards earned when certain items or groups of items are purchased and can be used like cash toward future purchases. Rite Aid COO Ken Martindale said the national rollout of the Load2Card feature for +UPs would follow a seven-month pilot in four cities.

August 14, 2012

A delivery truck driver for Rite Aid has won the retail pharmacy chain's annual driving competition, the company said.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A delivery truck driver for Rite Aid has won the retail pharmacy chain's annual driving competition, the company said.

Rite Aid announced Monday that Paul Matyseck of Lancaster, Calif., a Rite Aid driver for nine years, won the Rite Aid Driver Skills Challenge in Perryman, Md. Matyseck competed against 11 other Rite Aid drivers in the competition, which began in 2004.

August 7, 2012

Rite Aid has joined a prescription discount card program for Hispanics, the group offering the card said Tuesday.

NEW YORK — Rite Aid has joined a prescription discount card program for Hispanics, the group offering the card said Tuesday.

Effective immediately, Rite Aid stores will accept the UnivisionFarmacia card, distributed by a partnership between media company Univision Enterprises, EnvisionRxOptions and HolaDoctor. The UnivisionFarmacia network includes more than 32,000 pharmacies around the country. Members receive discounts of up to 85% on generic drugs, with an average savings of 40% across brand and generic drugs, the group said.

August 6, 2012

Rite Aid is offering flu shots at all of its stores, the retail pharmacy chain said.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is offering flu shots at all of its stores, the retail pharmacy chain said.

The company announced Monday the availability of the shots, offering during pharmacy hours, with no appointment necessary, for $29.99.

August 2, 2012

Rite Aid reported a 0.5% increase in same-store sales for July, including a 1.2% increase in front-end comps and a 0.2% increase in pharmacy comps. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 4.5%.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid reported a 0.5% increase in same-store sales for July, including a 1.2% increase in front-end comps and a 0.2% increase in pharmacy comps. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 4.5%.

Total drug store sales for the month decreased 0.1% to nearly $1.9 billion, compared with July 2011.

July 31, 2012

Randy Heiser recently joined McKesson as director of retail national accounts of Six Sigma, DSN has learned.

SAN FRANCISCO — Randy Heiser recently joined McKesson as director of retail national accounts of Six Sigma, DSN has learned.

Heiser comes to McKesson from Giant Eagle, where he was VP pharmacy and oversaw the day-to-day operation of more than 209 locations. Heiser started his retail pharmacy career in 1980 with Rite Aid, where he worked his way up to director of professional placement and director of pharmacy and therapeutic
management.

July 31, 2012

As part of Rite Aid’s new Wellness store formats, Rite Aid has positioned its Wellness Ambassador in front of the OTC aisles armed with an iPad that has access to vetted health information.

As part of Rite Aid’s new Wellness store formats, Rite Aid has positioned its Wellness Ambassador in front of the OTC aisles armed with an iPad that has access to vetted health information. “Our Wellness Ambassadors play an important role in the customer experience,” noted Robert Thompson, Rite Aid EVP pharmacy. “They’re there to help patients talk to the pharmacist [for] specific answers to their health questions,” he said. “With us, it’s personal,” Thompson added, referencing Rite Aid’s long-standing maxim.

July 30, 2012

Prepare to roll up your sleeves, because the battle for the ESI patient has only just begun. While Wall Street is busy calculating the earnings-per-share impact this will have on all relevant parties (at press time, Walgreens’ shares had consistently hovered around the $35 range, up almost $4 in the week following the announcement), the business of pharmacy retailing will return to block and tackle mode.


Prepare to roll up your sleeves, because the battle for the ESI patient has only just begun. While Wall Street is busy calculating the earnings-per-share impact this will have on all relevant parties (at press time, Walgreens’ shares had consistently hovered around the $35 range, up almost $4 in the week following the announcement), the business of pharmacy retailing will return to block and tackle mode.


July 30, 2012

Incorporated into the new store formats currently being rolled out by both Walgreens and Rite Aid is a new store associate position with the primary function of proactively engaging customers in the OTC aisle. Walgreens calls them Health Guides; Rite Aid calls them Wellness Ambassadors.

Incorporated into the new store formats currently being rolled out by both Walgreens and Rite Aid is a new store associate position with the primary function of proactively engaging customers in the OTC aisle. Walgreens calls them Health Guides; Rite Aid calls them Wellness Ambassadors.

July 30, 2012

In 2006, Time magazine added a twist to its annual “Person of the Year” cover story, replacing the usual picture of some prominent individual with a picture of a glossy computer screen to show that social networking had made “you” the person of the year. Now, the idea that it’s all about “you” has percolated into retail. 


In 2006, Time magazine added a twist to its annual “Person of the Year” cover story, replacing the usual picture of some prominent individual with a picture of a glossy computer screen to show that social networking had made “you” the person of the year. Now, the idea that it’s all about “you” has percolated into retail. 


July 30, 2012

Everybody loves a comeback story, and it looks as though the pharmacy retail industry has one of its own in the making as Rite Aid’s latest earnings report showed another strong quarter for the Camp Hill, Pa.-based chain, which has been steadily growing its sales and narrowing its losses for several quarters already.


Everybody loves a comeback story, and it looks as though the pharmacy retail industry has one of its own in the making as Rite Aid’s latest earnings report showed another strong quarter for the Camp Hill, Pa.-based chain, which has been steadily growing its sales and narrowing its losses for several quarters already.


July 30, 2012

Rite Aid is touting its vaccinating pharmacists as the back-to-school season begins.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is touting its vaccinating pharmacists as the back-to-school season begins.

The retail pharmacy chain said its pharmacists were ready to provide vaccinations against pertussis, meningitis, hepatitis B, human papillomavirus and other diseases, in addition to providing advice on oral health, nutritional supplements, cough-cold supplies and first-aid kits.

July 30, 2012

One of the most visible representations of Rite Aid’s efforts to make a comeback is its Wellness store format. The company first unveiled the format in several test markets in the Northeast last year, gradually expanding it to other states.

One of the most visible representations of Rite Aid’s efforts to make a comeback is its Wellness store format. The company first unveiled the format in several test markets in the Northeast last year, gradually expanding it to other states. Today, more than 420 stores have been converted, and the chain hopes to eventually make the format the norm. The company plans to have 780 stores converted by the end of the year.


July 26, 2012

GNC recently extended its relationship with Sam's Club, the company announced in conjunction with its second-quarter results.

PITTSBURGH — GNC recently extended its relationship with Sam's Club, the company announced in conjunction with its second-quarter results.

Beginning in third quarter 2012, GNC's presence in all Sam's Club locations will incorporate established shelf space with branded signage, adding to the existing rotational assortment program.

July 23, 2012

Rite Aid is gearing up for the back-to-school season as it again offers a dedicated value website that demonstrates the different ways customers can save at its stores.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is gearing up for the back-to-school season as it again offers a dedicated value website that demonstrates the different ways customers can save at its stores.

July 23, 2012

So Walgreens and Express Scripts have buried the hatchet. The question is, can the nation’s top pharmacy retailer regain the billions of dollars in contracted prescription revenues it ceded to its competitors after the two sides severed relations in January? And, given the way Walgreens has adjusted and reset its growth strategy since then, does it matter that much?

So Walgreens and Express Scripts have buried the hatchet. The question is, can the nation’s top pharmacy retailer regain the billions of dollars in contracted prescription revenues it ceded to its competitors after the two sides severed relations in January? And, given the way Walgreens has adjusted and reset its growth strategy since then, does it matter that much?

July 23, 2012

Prepare to roll up your sleeves, because the battle for the ESI patient has only just begun.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Prepare to roll up your sleeves, because the battle for the ESI patient has only just begun. While Wall Street is busy calculating the earnings-per-share impact this will have on all relevant parties (Walgreens' stock is still trading up some $3, an approximate 10% increase, since the announcement), the business of pharmacy retailing will return to block and tackle mode. Filling prescriptions across the back-bench may have become a commodity, but that pharmacy patient still holds tremendous value. And beginning Sept.

July 11, 2012

Canadian retail pharmacy operator the Jean Coutu Group posted big increases in sales and profits that stemmed in large part from its sale earlier this year of much of its stake in U.S. retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid.

LONGUEUIL, Quebec — Canadian retail pharmacy operator the Jean Coutu Group posted big increases in sales and profits that stemmed in large part from its sale earlier this year of much of its stake in U.S. retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid.

July 11, 2012

Social media is an important component of ongoing brand marketing, as well as any advertising campaign for a drug store retailer or brand. Integrated communications have the most impact because earned, owned and paid media reinforce and amplify the message. All channels feed off each other; the more frequently a potential customer sees or hears about a brand or retailer, particularly in more than one context or venue, the more likely she is to remember and purchase.

Social media is an important component of ongoing brand marketing, as well as any advertising campaign for a drug store retailer or brand. Integrated communications have the most impact because earned, owned and paid media reinforce and amplify the message. All channels feed off each other; the more frequently a potential customer sees or hears about a brand or retailer, particularly in more than one context or venue, the more likely she is to remember and purchase.

July 9, 2012

Rite Aid is using its social networking sites to offer 10 days of deals for the summer, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is using its social networking sites to offer 10 days of deals for the summer, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Rite Aid said it would use the Rites — a fictional, digital family comprising Procrastinating Papa Rite, Deal Digger Mama Rite, Over-the-Top Olivia Rite, Scrooge Sally Rite, and Prepare and Preppy Patrick Rite — to promote deals across its Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest pages.

July 6, 2012

Arctic Ease has become available in Rite Aid stores, the manufacturer said.

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. — Arctic Ease has become available in Rite Aid stores, the manufacturer said.

Arctic Ease announced the available of its cold-compression cryotherapy wrap at Rite Aid's more than 4,600 stores.

July 5, 2012

Rite Aid's same-store sales decreased in June, compared with June 2011, due largely to a decrease in pharmacy comps, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales decreased in June, compared with June 2011, due largely to a decrease in pharmacy comps, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

The 1% decrease in overall comps included a 1.6% decrease in pharmacy same-store sales — including a negative effect of 672 basis points from new generic introductions — and a 0.3% increase in front-end same-store sales. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 2.9%.

June 28, 2012

This year’s National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference proved to be a productive four-day event as retailers and suppliers representing more than $500 billion in annual buying power convened in Denver to network, explore business opportunities and participate in educational programs.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — This year’s National Association of Chain Drug Stores Marketplace Conference proved to be a productive four-day event as retailers and suppliers representing more than $500 billion in annual buying power convened in Denver to network, explore business opportunities and participate in educational programs.

June 25, 2012

You want Rite Aid to win. A Rite Aid win represents a proof of concept — that concept being the creation of an effective market-driven loyalty program that incorporates savings on the healthcare services that actually works and in fact cross-pollinates pharmacy patients and front-end shoppers; that concept being that generic waves need not wash out all pharmacy sales volume if a pharmacy retailer can successfully grow ancillary healthcare services, such as immunizations or Rite Aid's new Rite Care Prescription Advisor; that concept being that there is in fact a return on investment from placing a knowledgeable team member armed with a tablet of health information physically in the aisles to proactively engage patients.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — You want Rite Aid to win.