Supermarket RX News
Winn-Dixie opens new prototype store
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —Winn-Dixie Stores, on Jan. 7, opened a new prototype store in an existing Save Right location here, featuring everyday low prices on thousands of items a la Walmart, as well as monthly locked-in specials and special price-drop items in a warehouse format.
The 48,000-sq.-ft. store has a pharmacy with 30-day supplies of more than 400 generic drugs for only $3.98.
SaveRite closed the store Jan. 6, allowing time for associates to work through the afternoon and evening to lower thousands of prices.
A&P unveils mail-order Rx
, MONTVALE, N.J.
Under the A&P Mail Order Pharmacy program, customers fill out a patient profile questionnaire and mail the original prescription, along with their profile, to the A&P pharmacy in Old Tappan, N.J. According to the company, medications typically will be delivered in about 14 days. Prescription refills generally are shipped within 48 hours.
Also, through the company’s Live Better! Wellness Program, a 90-day supply of more than 400 generic medications is available for $9.99.
Hy-Vee opens two convenient care clinics
, WEST DES MOINES, Iowa
The new Iowa Health Express Care clinics are located at Hy-Vee’s Ankeny and West Des Moines (Mills Civic Parkway) stores.
The two clinic locations replace former Curaquick Clinics, which offered similar services. In 2007, Curaquick closed 11 clinics in Hy-Vee stores in Iowa.
Currently, Curaquick is partnered with Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City to operate clinics in two Hy-Vee locations in Sioux City.
Giant, Stop & Shop launch free prescription program
, LANDOVER, Md.
Giant is supporting the program with TV advertising, physician outreach, in-store communication and an expanded Web presence.
Competitor Wegmans followed with the introduction of its own free generic antibiotics program on Jan. 6, offering free 14-day supplies of nine generic antibiotics. The program runs Jan. 7 to March 31.
“We understand the economic pressures families are facing, including the rising cost of health care” CEO Danny Wegman noted.
Wegmans, with approximately 72 locations, estimated that the program has the potential to save its customers around $1 million.
Weis Markets’ president Hepfinger named CEO
, SUNBURY, Pa.
Hepfinger, who joined the company last year as COO, was responsible for day-to-day store operations, perishable and center store marketing, merchandising and procurement, pharmacy, distribution, human resources and store support services.
Under Hepfinger’s guidance, the grocer has prospered in the past year. Weis realized year-to-date growth of 5.1% to $1.8 billion for the three quarters ended Sept. 27, 2008.
Hepfinger, the fourth CEO in Weis’ history, will report directly to Weis Markets’ chairman Robert Weis and vice chairman Jonathan Weis.
Nivea New YearBeiersdorf, the maker of the Nivea brand, rang in the New Year by sponsoring NBC’s “New Year’s Eve with Carson Daly” and handing out samples of its new Nivea Lip Care in Times Square. As part of the sponsorship, the New Year’s Eve countdown special featured a Nivea-branded countdown clock. Nivea commercials also ran on NBC that night as part of the marketing initiative.