Albertsons

To sway investors, Rite Aid sent a letter to shareholders detailing the merits of the proposed merger, along with the company’s recommendation that shareholders should vote in favor of the transaction.

Albertsons’ solid first quarter saw the retailer grow its e-commerce sales and own brands penetration as it reduced its net loss ahead of its planned acquisition of Rite Aid.

Albertsons pharmacies were given agency approval to pilot Idaho’s new prescribing authority, which took effect July 1, making it the first large retail chain pharmacy in the nation to offer these expanded services.

More than 1,600 Albertsons Companies pharmacies across 21 states have pharmacists with the ability to independently provide naloxone, a medication used to reverse the impacts of an opioid overdose, and to educate patients and caregivers about its use, the retailer has announced.

Albertsons announced on Thursday that it is expanding and elevating its Own Brands portfolio with the new Signature Reserve line of products.

Personalized medicine platform provider Genomind has entered into a partnership with Albertsons to allow pharmacy patients at select Albertsons, Jewel-Osco and Acme supermarkets who are dealing with mental health issues to voluntarily receive free education about how genetic testing may be able to help them get better faster.

Albertsons has hired former Kohl’s executive Gautam Kotwal to serve as its executive vice president and chief data and analytics officer.

Grocers continue to be a big player in pharmacy — and though the Albertsons-Rite Aid merger is looking to cement that, pharmacy at grocery faces unique challenges.