In this Issue

No matter where you stand with regard to Obamacare or the American Health Care Act that Congress is debating even now, one factor is certain: The cost of health care — and the consumer’s share of that cost — is only going to grow.

As Lewis Drug marks its 75th year in business, its long-term success “still comes down to relationships,” according to Bill Ladwig, SVP of professional services.

What will retail pharmacy look like in 2027? Predicting the future is always iffy, but it’s certain that it will involve a lot of “C” words. Among them are connectivity; computing or, more accurately, the use of supercomputers in advanced diagnosis, medication therapy and drug development; collaboration; clinical care; and cost-saving imperatives.

Over the past 75 years, Lewis Drug has come to epitomize the best of regional drug store retailing. Based in Sioux Falls, S.D., the company has become deeply embedded in the life of many Upper Midwest communities, and the go-to resource for pharmacy and front-line healthcare services in dozens of towns scattered throughout eastern South Dakota, Minnesota and northwest Iowa. Its largest stores wield a remarkably wide assortment of products and generate in excess of $10 million annually.

The upper respiratory, cold-allergy-sinus liquids and tablets segments combined saw a 4% growth in sales across multi-outlets for the last 12 months compared with the previous year, with growth in drug and food channels for both UR segments. Impressive growth of 7% from cold-allergy-sinus liquids in the drug channel was driven by manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser with 16% growth year over year (Figure 1).

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee on Friday announced it now offers a Begin for Diabetes lifestyle management program, in addition to its existing Begin and Begin 4 Kids programs. All three options are led by registered dietitians in Hy-Vee’s 244 stores across its eight-state region.

I never understood people who root against the hometown team. I once knew a New York Yankees fan that was pulling for the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series. (Are you kidding me — the FLIPPING Red Sox?!) I bet him $50 just on principal; what kind of demented Yankees fan could ever root for the Red Sox to beat another New York team? Surely, this is the kind of sick lunatic that the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the CIA and just about every federal and local law enforcement agency in the country should have on a watch list.

How does Lewis Drug thrive in a crowded and super-competitive marketplace? The company’s success formula is no big secret, said Bob Meyer, SVP of merchandise and marketing, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to replicate. “[We try] to find niches in the marketplace where we feel we can do better than our competition,” Meyer explained.