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CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA has opened 120 pickup points for online orders as of the end of 2013, the supermarket operator said Monday.

Ahold, which hopes to triple its online food sales by 2016, said the opening of pickup points in the United States and Europe would be an important part of reaching that goal. Most of the pickup points in the United States are operated under the Stop & Shop, Giant Food of Landover, Md., and Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Pa., banners. The 120 pickup points compare with only eight a year ago.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid reported a 2.9% increase in same-store sales for the month of December, the retail pharmacy chain said Friday.

For the four-week period that ended Saturday, front-end same-store sales increased by 1%, while pharmacy same-store sales increased by 4.1%, including a 1% negative effect from the introduction of new generic drugs. Meanwhile, a decrease in sales of flu shots and prescription flu drugs resulted in a 2% decrease in same-store script count.

Total sales were $2.109 billion, an increase of 2.7% over December 2012.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Wheat Thins fans will get a new product to enjoy with the introduction of Wheat Thins Popped. The snack will hit retailers nationwide beginning March. 

It will be the first popped whole grain snack with wheat as the first ingredient. Wheat Thins Popped has less than 130 calories per 27-piece serving and comes in three varieties: Original Sea Salt, Sour Cream and Onion and Spicy Cheddar. The snack will retail for $3.69
 

NEW YORK — Regional chain Kinney Drugs is the latest to offer prescriptions at no upfront cost to some customers who have enrolled in Obamacare, according to published reports.

The Syracuse, N.Y., Post-Standard reported Friday that the Gouverneur, N.Y.-based chain would offer 30-day prescriptions to customers who have enrolled, but have not received an identification number. The offer is good through the month of January. Kinney operates 99 stores in central and northern New York and adjacent areas of Vermont.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is providing prescriptions at no upfront cost to customers who have enrolled in the health insurance marketplaces, but have not received an ID number, the retail pharmacy chain said.

The company said that during the month of January, it would dispense a 15- to 30-day supply of many medications to customers who bring in confirmation of their enrollment until their prescription coverage details are available. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, took full effect Wednesday.

According to reports, as many as 2.1 million Americans signed up for new insurance coverage that went into effect Jan. 1. However, even though these newly insured people had coverage, what they perhaps didn't have was the identification card to process claims, such as prescriptions, for example. But don't worry, retail pharmacy was fast to the rescue, offering those 2.1 million patients who had obtained insurance through a health exchange the benefit of the doubt and a 30-day supply of their prescriptions at no upfront cost once their coverage was verified. 

 NEW YORK — A story that appeared in the Dec. 21 edition of DSN AM, "Walgreens firing on all cylinders as chain realizes a total comp sales increase of 5.4% for its first quarter," incorrectly stated that Walgreens had administered an increase of 3.4% in flu shots in the first quarter. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Patients who have enrolled in the new healthcare insurance marketplaces but haven't received an identification number from their insurers can receive up to a 30-day supply of prescription drugs at no upfront cost at Walgreens, the retail pharmacy chain said.