Rite Aid releases sales totals for September; same store sales up 1.7 percent

CAMP HILL, Pa. Rite Aid today announced its September total sales numbers with a reported increase in same store sales of 1.7 percent over the same period 2007. Rite Aid said its year-to-date figures included 17 weeks of acquired Brooks Eckerd store sales.

Rite Aid said for the 30-weeks ended Sept. 27, same store sales increased 1.1 percent, with front-end sales up 2.1 percent and pharmacy up 0.6 percent for Sept. Rite Aid also reported that front-end sales had risen 3.4 percent over the same time last year and pharmacy sales increased 1.0 percent.

Rite Aid reported a slight decrease in drug store sales by 0.8 percent ($1.971 billion compared to $1.986 billion) for the same period 2007. Rite Aid said prescription sales comprised 67.9 percent of its total drug store sales. Additionally, prescription sales reflected 96.8 percent of total pharmacy sales, the company said.

Brooks Eckerd stores saw an increase in sales of 3.2 percent compared to the same period 2007. Front-end same store sales for Brooks Eckerd increased by 3.1 percent; pharmacy same store sales were up 3.3 percent.

“Once again our core stores delivered solid gains, and our acquired stores posted a significant increase in the front end and good improvement in the pharmacy. The turnaround of the former Brooks Eckerd stores continues,” Mary Sammons, Rite Aid chairman and chief executive officer said in a released statement.