Industry Intelligence

Five additional co-branded Save-A-Lot Food Stores/Rite Aid Pharmacy stores opened Oct. 11 I in Greenville, S.C. Owned and operated by Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid Corp., the locations feature Rite Aid pharmacies.

These openings come in the wake of the Sept. 27 debut of the first co-branded store in Easley, S.C. Rite Aid and Save-A-Lot, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based Supervalu, entered into a licensing agreement to develop the discount, limited-assortment concept in 10 existing Greenville-area Rite Aid stores.

Around 75 percent of the non-pharmacy part of each location carries an edited selection of fresh USDA-inspected meat; processed smoked and packaged meat; fresh produce; frozen food; dairy and dry groceries at value prices. Grocery items include both Save-A-Lot exclusive brands and national brands. The pharmacy portion of the stores offers a wide variety of HBC products, among them national and Rite Aid private brands.

The remaining four stores in the 10-store test, two of them in Simpsonville and the others in Greer and Travelers Rest, are remaining open during their conversion to the co-branded concept and are slated to be completed later this month.

“The response by customers to our new co-branded store in Easley has been great,” said Ken Martindale, COO of Rite Aid. “By co-branding with Save-A-Lot, we’re able to continue offering the Rite Aid pharmacy services and health and beauty items people have come to expect, and at the same time offer high-quality grocery products like fresh meats and produce at great prices.”

“This exciting new format, featuring aspects of both a traditional Rite Aid pharmacy and Save-A-Lot food store, provides added convenience and value to our consumers in the Greenville area,” added Save-A-Lot President and CEO Bill Shaner.

Rite Aid operates more than 4,700 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia. Save-A-Lot has nearly 1,200 stores in 39 states from Maine to California, serving more than 5 million shoppers weekly.