Pharmacy driving sales growth at Rite Aid

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Thursday morning posted a 2.9% increase for the 13-week quarter ended May 30, with front-end same-store sales tracking up at 0.6% and pharmacy comparable sales up 3.9%. Prescription counts at comparable stores increased 1.6% over the prior-year period. 

 

Total sales for Rite Aid's first quarter reached $6.6 billion on 2.8% growth. The company has scheduled a conference call to discuss the quarter with analysts on June 18. 

 

For the quarter, prescription sales represented 69.1% of total sales, and third-party prescription sales represented 97.7% of pharmacy sales.

 

Rite Aid same-store sales were up 2.1% for the five weeks ended May 30, with a front-end same-store sales increase of 0.1% and a pharmacy same-store sales increase of 3%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 0.7% over the prior-year period.

 

Total drug store sales for the five-week period increased 2% to $2.5 billion. Prescription sales accounted for 68.7% of drug store sales, and third-party prescription sales represented 97.8% of pharmacy sales.