Rite Aid announces 1 percent sales increase

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid Thursday morning reported a same-store sales increase of 1 percent for the five weeks ended Sept. 1. (Same-store sales do not presently include the recently acquired Brooks and Eckerd stores.) Pharmacy same-store sales increased 1.5 percent, which included an approximate 405 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, and front-end same-store sales were flat.

Total drug store sales for the five-week period increased 52.9 percent to $2.5 billion (which does include Brooks and Eckerd sales) compared with $1.6 billion for the same period last year.

Prescription revenue accounted for 68.2 percent of drug store sales, and third-party prescription revenue represented approximately 95.9 percent of pharmacy sales.

Second-Quarter Sales 

Same-store sales for the 13-week quarter ended Sept. 1 increased 1.1 percent over the prior year quarter, with a 1.4 percent lift in pharmacy same-store sales and a 0.6 percent increase in front-end same-store sales.

Total drug store sales for the quarter increased 54.1 percent to $6.6 billion from $4.3 billion in last year’s second quarter.