CAMP HILL, Pa.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) and Save-A-Lot, a SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU) company, announced today that Rite Aid has entered into a licensing agreement with Save-A-Lot to add the discount, limited assortment grocery store concept to Rite Aid’s ten existing stores in the Greenville, SC, market. The stores will be co-branded Save-A-Lot Food Stores/Rite Aid Pharmacy and will continue to be owned and operated by Rite Aid.
Rite Aid will continue to offer health and beauty products, including its private brand items, in these stores along with Save-A-Lot grocery products. The Rite Aid pharmacies will operate as usual.
“We believe this new co-branded concept meets the needs of today’s consumers, who continue to search for value, quality and convenience, and we're excited about the chance to offer our customers high quality grocery products including fresh meats and farm-fresh produce at great prices," said Ken Martindale, Rite Aid Chief Operating Officer. “We chose to add Save-A-Lot because of its strong sales record, wide selection of attractively priced exclusive brands and its solid reputation for discount grocery. Plus it’s a model that’s efficient for Rite Aid associates to operate.”
Martindale added that the 10-store test is part of the company’s segmentation strategy. Since early 2009, Rite Aid has been transitioning from operating all of its stores the same to identifying unique opportunities among like groups of stores. “This is one of those unique opportunities, and we’re excited about the test,” Martindale said.
“This new format, featuring aspects of both traditional Rite Aid pharmacies and Save-A-Lot food stores, will provide added convenience and value to consumers in the Greenville, SC, area,” said Bill Shaner, Save-A-Lot president and CEO. “This relationship is an opportunity for Save-A-Lot and Rite Aid to test a co-branding strategy and the integration of Rite Aid pharmacies into our traditional Save-A-Lot grocery store model.”
The ten stores, which are located in Greenville, Easley, Greer, Simpsonville and Travelers Rest, will remain open as they begin converting to the new format this month. Rite Aid said it has designed the remodel process to make sure the pharmacy remains easily accessible, and Rite Aid’s pharmacy teams can continue to offer the same high level of service Greenville residents have come to expect. The remodels are expected to be completed in October.
The locations of the stores are:
•5991 Calhoun Memorial Highway, Easley
•1400 Woodruff Road, Greenville
•1 East Stone Avenue, Greenville
•6700 Whitehorse Road, Greenville
•3050 Whitehorse Road, Greenville
•2422 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greenville
•1100 West Wade Hampton Boulevard, Greer
•930 North East Main Street, Simpsonville
•202 Scuffletown Road, Simpsonville
•6414 State Park Road, Travelers Rest
Source: Rite Aid Corp.