WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Health recently announced that it is introducing new small format pharmacies in select areas this year, an example of how the company varies store formats to meet the needs of the local communities they serve.
These new stores will be under 5,000 square feet—less than half the size of a typical CVS—and prioritize full-service pharmacy operations with limited retail offerings.
The goal is to have the right kind and number of stores in the right locations to better serve their customers’ needs.
A recent CVS Health report highlighted that 70% of Americans prefer in-person interactions, and nearly half (48%) said they would likely switch their pharmacy if they could only interact with their pharmacist digitally.
CVS Pharmacy is the largest retail pharmacy in the U.S., with more than 9,000 locations nationwide. More than 85% of people in the U.S. live within 10 miles of a CVS Pharmacy.
The chain is focused on helping maintain access to important pharmacy services and ensuring the right kinds of stores are in the right locations for our customers — especially in underserved communities.
Thorvardur de Shong
By taking a customized approach to their footprint that is focused on the specific needs of the communities they serve, CVS Pharmacy can continue to provide access to important medications, which is especially important in areas that currently lack pharmacies.
These stores will be centered around pharmacies that offer all the services found at its traditional locations, including access to acute and long-term prescriptions, various immunizations, medication adherence support and automatic refills. They will also offer a smaller, curated assortment of over-the-counter products such as cold and flu medication, pain relievers and other health and wellness items.
The new smaller, pharmacy-focused stores are meant to complement the services and products CVS Pharmacy offers communities, along with:
- Traditional CVS Pharmacy locations, with robust pharmacy care products and services along with an assortment of products our customers shop for including health, beauty, snacks, seasonal, and so much more,
- Store-in-store formats, such as CVS Pharmacy locations in Target and Schnucks,
- Differentiated front store formats tailored to the unique needs of local communities, including CVS Pharmacy y Mas, Navarro and Longs Drugs, and
- Health care-focused formats that feature full-service pharmacies and a wide assortment of front store offerings, in addition to other health care providers such as Oak Street Health, Carbon Health, Omnicare and MinuteClinic.
Why its Important
The majority of Americans trust their pharmacist and value, even prefer, in-person interactions with their pharmacy team. In fact, a recent CVS Health® report highlighted that 70% of Americans prefer in-person interactions, and nearly half (48%) said they would likely switch their pharmacy if they could only interact with their pharmacist digitally. CVS Pharmacy’s store-based colleagues are key differentiators and important to the future the company — a future that prioritizes personal interactions that are supported (but not replaced) by digital tools and technology.
That’s why the company is continuously investing in their stores, their pharmacies and their people, so they can continue to be there for their communities — whether it’s creating small moments of joy with their assortment of products or providing convenient access to pharmacy services and care.
