PHILADELPHIA — With the June 18 deadline for bidding on the remaining assets of Rite Aid looming, the potential buyers who are looking them over include Walgreens, reality star turned entrepreneur Kourtney Kardashian, consumer-focused private equity firms, and three brand management companies: Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global and Marquee Brands.
Walgreens and the three brand management companies are evaluating Rite Aid’s intellectual property and loyalty program.
It appears that Kardashian is interested in Rite Aid’s ice cream brand Thrifty. Kardashian is co-founder of gummy vitamin maker Lemme and owner of wellness and lifestyle website Poosh.
The pharmacy chain's Thrifty ice cream brand is sold at ice cream counters in some Rite Aid locations or by the carton at Rite Aid and other retailers including Albertsons. Thrifty launched in 1940 at a small factory in West Hollywood and counts a number of celebrities as customers, including Kardashian. Some consumer-focused private equity firms are also eyeing Thrifty as well.
Bill Schiffner
Last month, Rite Aid said it had reached agreements to sell prescription files for more than 1,000 pharmacy locations, nearly all of its stores, with CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, Kroger and Giant Eagle among the successful bidders.
The current bid deadline for the remaining assets is June 18 at 5 p.m. EST.
