Content about Rite Aid

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's comparable-store sales increased by 3.6% in March, while total drug store sales increased by 3.1%, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Front-end comps increased by 4.6%, while pharmacy comps increased by 3.2%. Total sales were nearly $2 billion, compared with $1.93 billion in March 2011.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is set to launch its annual fundraising campaign designed to benefit an organization of 170 children's hospitals throughout North America.

Rite Aid said it will kick off its 18th annual Miracle Balloon campaign in support of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals this Sunday. Through May 19, customers who purchase a $1 Miracle Balloon at any Rite Aid will receive $7 in coupon offers good for a variety of items sold at Rite Aid.

NEW YORK — Rite Aid has become the latest chain to join the retail smartphone application game.

The Camp Hill, Pa.-based retail pharmacy chain recently launched an app for smartphones that allows users to refill prescriptions by scanning their barcodes or entering the prescription number, transfer prescriptions, manage their Wellness+ loyalty card accounts, view weekly circulars and compile shopping lists, among other features.

The app is available for major smartphone brands including the Apple iPhone and Android phones.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is sponsoring skin cancer screenings at dozens of stores across the country as part of a tour that begins this month and ends in August, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Rite Aid said the Skin Cancer Foundation would travel across the country in a 38-ft. RV to more than 50 Rite Aid locations as part of the Road to Healthy Skin Tour, which Aveeno also is co-sponsoring, starting this week.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — A miniature version of the spike in stock market activity that followed speculation about the prospects of a Walgreens-Rite Aid merger happened on Drug Store News' website as a quick writeup about the potential deal became the most-read story on the site.

(THE NEWS: Reports: WAG-RAD merger speculation drives RAD stock to four-year high. For the full story, click here)

NEW YORK — Shares of Rite Aid crossed the $2 mark Wednesday afternoon following analyst speculation about the prospects of a takeover by Walgreens, according to published reports.

CAMP HILL. Pa. — Rite Aid same-store sales increased by 3.1% in February, including a 1.9% increase in front-end comps and a 3.7% increase in pharmacy comps, the company said Thursday.

Total sales for the 4,667-store chain were $2.55 billion, a 2.3% increase over February 2011's $2.5 billion.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — In the wake of tornadoes that hit communities in Kentucky on Friday, retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid has donated to a local Red Cross chapter to assist victims.

The company said Sunday that the Rite Aid Foundation, its philanthropic arm, had donated $15,000 to the Bluegrass chapter of the American Red Cross. The foundation also will provide supplies and items to assist with disaster relief efforts. Eli Lilly Foundation also pledged to donate $100,000 to the Red Cross.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has closed a bond offering that it issued earlier this month to refinance its debt, the company said Monday.

Rite Aid said the proceeds of its offering of $481 million in 9.25% senior notes due 2020 would be used to buy back its 8.625% senior notes due 2015.

The retail pharmacy chain announced the offering on Feb. 14. The offering marked the first time that the company was able to tap the unsecured debt market in five years. Rite Aid has carried a heavy debt burden since its 2007 acquisition of the Brooks and Eckerd pharmacy chains.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Retailers have always been about enhancing the shopping experience, but there are two factors this year that really should underscore the importance in that customer focus. Differentiating a retail shopping trip by experience is a lot friendlier to the margins because a shopper willing to trade on shopping experience also is willing to spend a little more.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A retail pharmacy chain's efforts to immunize customers have won recognition from an organization of the country's pharmacists.

Rite Aid won the American Pharmacists Association's Immunization Champion Award in the national corporation and institution category, the chain said Thursday.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is marking American Heart Month with a campaign that offers blood-pressure screenings, online tools and hearth health guides for free, the company said Wednesday.

Through Feb. 29, customers can buy a paper red dress for $1 that they can sign, dedicate and pin to store walls to help promote awareness of women's heart health.