RITE AID

In response to a soft flu season, ongoing COVID-19 impacts and challenging weather conditions, Rite Aid adjusted its guidance for the fiscal year that ended Feb. 27, ahead of it sharing full results on April 15.

Rite Aid is extending its priority COVID-19 scheduling period for teachers, school staff and childcare providers following a directive from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Biden administration.

Rite Aid has expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination to pre-K through high school educators, school staff and licensed childcare program staff.

Rite Aid is issuing a food-contact materials restricted substance list and requiring own-brand suppliers to certify that its packaging and packaging components comply with it, as well as federal and state packaging laws.

As it expands COVID-19 testing to 441 additional stores, Rite Aid also is kicking off its participation in the federal pharmacy program, offering COVID-19 vaccines in five states and two jurisdictions with direct federal allocations.

The Camp Hill, Pa.-based chain is opening 317 additional drive-thru testing locations in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania on Feb. 5.

The company said it would be adding 60 additional drive-thru testing locations to its existing 400 testing sites on Jan. 22.

Rite Aid’s new RxEvolution strategy for success is its Store of the Future, in which the intent is bringing pharmacists out of their customary place in the back of the store and prominently placing them front and center.

The company said it would be opening 99 additional drive-thru sites offering no-charge COVID-19 tests on Dec. 22, which will bring its total testing footprint to 400 sites.

The Camp Hill, Pa.-based retailer reported revenue of $6.12 billion, up 12% year over year, with net income of $4.3 million,\ compared with $52.3 million a year ago.

Rite Aid, DSN's 2020 Pharmacy Innovator of the Year, has made immunizations a cornerstone of its pharmacy approach. From flu shots to forthcoming COVID-19 vaccines, read how the company is positioning its pharmacists as a resource.

With new leadership and an overhauled go-to-market strategy, Rite Aid is moving forward with purpose — earning it the title of DSN's 2020 Pharmacy Innovator of the year.