In this Issue

If Fred’s CEO Mike Bloom has his way, the Fred’s Pharmacy of today won’t be the Fred’s of tomorrow. The retailer — currently operator of 601 discount general merchandise stores with 350 store and pharmacy locations — announced in December 2016 that it will acquire a minimum of 865 divested Rite Aid stores should the U.S. Federal Trade Commission approve the proposed Walgreens Boots Alliance-Rite Aid merger. (The transaction had not been approved as of press time.) If approved, Fred’s would become the third-largest drug store retailer.

To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the eventual demise of independent community pharmacy are exaggerated. Not just exaggerated, but wildly inaccurate.

Giant supermarket operator Kroger views health and wellness as an area for long-term investment, a point underscored by its purchase last year of specialty pharmacy ModernHEALTH. Even as it faces headwinds related to food deflation, Kroger is keeping an eye on growth opportunities in its expansive market area, which includes 35 states and the District of Columbia.

Thrifty White Pharmacy has been around in one form or another since the 1880s, but you wouldn’t know its age by the Plymouth, Minn.-based chain’s efforts at bringing its engagement-focused patient care to as many patients as possible. At the start of this year, the company — which Drug Store News named its Pharmacy Innovator of the Year in 2016 — unveiled its new Healthy Outcomes Diabetes Support Program, through which it partners with employers and providers in the communities its stores serve to help maximize health outcomes among diabetic patients.

Drug chains are editing existing product assortments to clear more space for up-and-coming brands that court back shoppers who may have migrated to specialty stores. Several categories are heating things up in the beauty aisles, especially Korean beauty. Kline research reveals the category is growing at a 30% annual clip, and chains are seeking the right items to introduce more shoppers to the innovative and effective Korean entries.

The retail behemoth of Bentonville, Ark., wants to lead Americans to better health habits, better nutritional choices and longer, healthier lives. It’s an ambitious mission for any retail chain, but given its long reach into the nation’s heartland, its enormous marketing clout and its massive consumer drawing power, Walmart’s ability to boost the nation’s health and longevity index may be unmatched by any other single entity save the U.S. government.

Purveyors of health products have been riding the baby boomer wave for some time now, and it doesn’t appear to be cresting any time soon. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the number of Americans ages 65 years old and older is projected to more than double from 46 million today to more than 98 million by 2060, and the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population will rise to nearly 24% from 15%.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)

Masculine grooming choices are soaring — beard services are up 20%, men’s hair lightening 110% and men’s coloring 8%, according to Kline Pro, which also found men are especially interested in products for thinning hair, finishing and shine. The brands men look for include Layrite, Baxter and Jack Black.

(To view the full Category Review, click here.)