Supporting succession plans

In early 2015, Bartell Drugs celebrated its 125th anniversary and named a new president. Brian Unmacht took the helm as president of the family-owned chain in the first quarter of 2015 after serving as a member of Bartell Drugs’ board of directors since 2011. Previously, Unmacht was executive VP and COO at REI.

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Bartell Drugs’ chairman and CEO George D. Bartell said that filling the position at the 63-store chain supports future succession plans. Bartell Drugs is the oldest and largest family-owned drug store chain in the United States.



Last year, Bartell added a Group Health CareClinic to an additional location, bringing the total to three. The CareClinics, opened in partnership with Group Health and staffed with Group Health nurse practitioners and physician assistants, will get a wider rollout, with four to five added in additional Bartell locations in 2015. The clinics are open on evenings and weekends.



Adding CareClinic facilities is one way Bartell employs “high touch, high service” features to differentiate itself from competitors. Services that can only be offered in store allow the chain to compete with online channels.



In 2016, the chain will open a new store in the Ballard area of Seattle. The 14,000-sq.-ft. location will be a “next generation” store that will introduce new services, product offerings and customer convenience features.



Through its pharmacies, Bartell offers a variety of immunizations and health screening services. The chain offers pharmacy refill and reminder services with its MyAutoScript program, and allows patients to sync their prescription refills with its MyRxSync service.



Bartell offers in-store health and beauty events twice a year, during which it offers digital mammography screenings in cooperation with Evergreen Medical Hospital and a variety of other health and beauty offers.