CAMP HILL, Pa. — Gains in the pharmacy and front end lifted same-store sales at Rite Aid Corp. for April.
The drug chain said Thursday that for the four weeks ended April 28, comparable-store sales rose 2.9%, down from the 3.6% comp-store sales increase in March but continuing a string of monthly gains over the past year.
In April, same-store sales grew 2.7% in the front end and 3% in the pharmacy. Rite Aid noted that the pharmacy results reflect a negative impact of 311 basis points from generic drug introductions. Prescriptions filled at comparable stores rose 3.8% for the month.
Total drug store sales in April climbed 2.5% to $1.99 billion from nearly $1.95 billion a year earlier. Prescription sales accounted for 67.9% of drug store sales during the month.
For the eight weeks ended April 28, same-store sales were up 3.3%, reflecting gains of 3.6% in the front end and 3.1% in the pharmacy. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 3.2% during the period.
Overall drug store sales for the eight weeks edged up 2.8% to $3.98 billion, with prescription sales representing 68.5% of that total, according to Rite Aid.
As of April 28, Rite Aid operated 4,658 drug stores, compared with 4,705 stores a year earlier.
