RITE AID

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Same-store sales at Rite Aid increased by 1.3% in May, compared with the year-ago period, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Reporting sales for the five-week period that ended May 28, Rite Aid said front-end same-store sales increased 1.8%, while same-store sales in the pharmacy increased by 1%, including a 129-basis-point offset due to introductions of new generic drugs. Prescription count increased 0.1%.

Total drug store sales during the period were nearly $2.5 billion, a 1% increase over $2.45 billion in May 2010.

PITTSBURGH — GNC on Monday announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Shadow Beverages and Snacks, the producer and distributor of Ironclad Energy + Hydration and No Fear Energy drinks.

The deal is expected to push the GNC brand name beyond its retail base and partnership with Rite Aid in the drug channel. Under the terms of the licensing agreement, Shadow Beverages and Snacks will produce a line of ready-to-drink products that will be marketed under the GNC brand.

Neither one of the co-
recipients of this year’s Fantle Award would want you to call it the end of an era. 


CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has raised more than $50 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since becoming a sponsor in 1994, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Rite Aid stores have been selling $1 paper Miracle Balloons since April in a campaign that will end Saturday, having raised $2.9 million so far this year. To mark the $50 milestone, celebrations will take place at stores in Bronx, N.Y.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Hershey, Pa.; Norfolk, Va.; and Eugene, Ore.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has appointed David Kelly as group VP construction, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.

Kelly, who has worked in real estate and development for more than 25 years, will start work May 31 and will have overall responsibility for all store planning and construction services, in addition to having a role in various segmentation initiatives, including Wellness, value and co-branded Save-A-Lot/Rite Aid stores. He will report directly to SVP, CFO and chief administrative officer Frank Vitrano.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — A partner with a private equity firm that purchased preferred stock from Rite Aid in 1999 has joined the retail pharmacy chain’s board.

Rite Aid said Thursday that John Baumer, a partner with Leonard Green & Partners, had joined the board, replacing Jon Sokoloff, the firm’s managing partner, who has resigned from the board.

Leonard Green & Partners is an affiliate of Green Equity Investors III, which said it will re-elect Baumer for a one-year term at Rite Aid’s annual stockholder’s meeting on June 23.

NEW YORK — Credit Suisse on Wednesday initiated coverage of General Nutrition Centers, the specialty retailer of supplement and nutritional products and partner with Rite Aid in a store-within-a-store program across more than 1,000 drug store locations.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Three Rite Aid stores in New England have received Energy Star certification from the Environmental Protection Agency, the retail pharmacy chain said Monday.