KROGER

CINCINNATI — UC Health, the affiliated health system of the University of Cincinnati, and The Little Clinic have announced a clinical collaboration to provide consumers with improved access to healthcare services with UC Health supporting The Little Clinic locations inside 18 Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, area Kroger stores.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix on Friday posted sales for third quarter 2013 of $7 billion, representing a 5.6% increase. Comparable-store sales for third quarter 2013 increased 4.1%. 

Publix's sales for the first nine months of 2013 were $21.6 billion, a 5.2% increase from last year's $20.5 billion. Comparable-store sales for the first nine months of 2013 increased 3.4%. 

Kroger’s Little Clinic is on a growth path. The company is looking to open as many as 50 new retail-based health clinics next year, according to published reports, as part of a clear health care play the retailer is making in the midst of healthcare reform.

We’ve said it before and we’re saying it again: 2014 will be the year of the retail clinic.

NEW YORK — As the implementation of healthcare reform looms, Kroger is sharpening its focus on health care by not only stocking its shelves with healthier food options but also is gearing up to add 50 Little Clinic locations next year, according to published reports.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Grocer Harris Teeter posted an increase in fiscal 2013 sales and same-store sales.

For fiscal 2013, sales rose 3.8% to $4.71 billion from $4.54 billion in the year-ago period. Same-store sales for the year increased 2.23%.

Fourth quarter sales rose 4.5% to $1.19 billion from $1.14 billion in the year-ago period. The increase in sales was fueled by an increase in same-store sales and sales from new stores, partially offset by store closings. Same-store sales increased 1.49% for the quarter.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A division of Kroger Co. has placed an initial order for Alkaline88, a bottled water brand produced using a proprietary electrolysis beverage process.

The Alkaline Water Co. announced the order Wednesday, from Smiths Food and Drug Stores, which operates 131 stores in Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Alkaline sells the water in 3-L and 1-gal. sizes.

NEW YORK — Safeway could fetch an asking price of more than $45 per share, estimated Credit Suisse in a research note issued Thursday. 

Shares of Safeway were up slightly by 15 cents to $35.73 in early morning trading.

Responding to a Reuters report on private equity firm Cerberus' interest in the supermarket chain, Credit Suisse research analyst Ed Kelly suggested that a Cerberus-Safeway deal would be compelling for the following reasons: 

LAKE MARY, Fla. — A group that accredits healthcare organizations has renewed its certification for the Kroger Co.'s specialty pharmacy division.

Axium Healthcare Pharmacy said Wednesday that it received a renewal of its accreditation status from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care for its specialty pharmacy services.