In this Issue

With its sprawling, bare-bones warehouse stores and bulk merchandising, Sam’s Club virtually shouts value and low prices. But increasingly, the nation’s second-largest wholesale membership club chain also presents itself as a viable source for both lower-cost prescriptions and other products for chronic and preventive care, and as a community resource for immunizations, health screenings, self-diagnostics and other health-and-wellness services.

Wakefern Food Corp. continued to advance its health-and-wellness efforts over the past year, driven by a deep understanding of the needs of specific customer segments. One of those segments targeted by the operator of ShopRite supermarkets across six states are younger consumers.

By pharmacists: For pharmacists. That simple edict not only served as the genesis behind AmerisourceBergen’s new ABC Order system that was piloted last year, but also captures the spirit of how AmerisourceBergen and its Good Neighbor Pharmacy franchise operation approach independent pharmacy.

Hy-Vee is well-known for its health-and-wellness commitment, and the supermarket chain has been taking efforts up a few notches recently with new and expanded programs.

The Iowa-based company, which operates food stores in eight Midwestern states, has been growing programs for immunizations and in-store health clinics, while promoting in-store healthy foods’ departments and dietitians to support customer needs.

“The company prides itself on its dedication to health and wellness,” Kristin Williams, SVP and chief health officer, told DSN.

Shopko Pharmacy had an excellent 2016, led by total prescription growth and increased days of supply, with continued growth in 90-day fills as a percent of prescription fills. “A key driver of our growth was our passion for providing personalized service in all of our pharmacies, with short wait times, expert medication advice and chronic disease counseling,” Darren Singer, Shopko’s SVP, health and wellness, told Drug Store News.

Walgreens Boots Alliance in the past year has implemented “a new way of thinking” across the upper echelons of the company. “We’re focused on working in partnership to provide a better, more efficient and more effective approach [to health care] within the United States,” Stefano Pessina, executive vice chairman and CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance, told shareholders earlier in the year.

If you could pick only one headline regarding CVS Health over the past year, the conversion of all 1,669 pharmacies and 79 clinics acquired from Target in 2015 to CVS Pharmacy locations would be a good one. To be sure, those efforts are paying off. In the former Target pharmacy locations, script counts are up, CVS Health president and CEO Larry Merlo told analysts during a February earnings call.

Albertsons is proving that the sum can indeed be greater than the parts. Following the 2015 merger of Albertsons and Safeway — both of which had long and distinguished records of providing health-and-wellness services — the combined company is continuing that tradition. It has expanded several of its pharmacy- and health-related offerings as it shares best practices across the company and introduces new programs companywide.