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Pharmacy Is Top Performer: FMI Report

Supermarket pharmacies show consistently high performance and a growing presence in overall store operations, according to Supermarket Pharmacy Trends 2007, a report from the Food Marketing Institute released last month. Overall productivity and dispensing have risen, the report said, allowing for growth in the form of health and wellness programs. For example, prescription sales as

ARLINGTON, Va. — Supermarket pharmacies show consistently high performance and a growing presence in overall store operations, according to “Supermarket Pharmacy Trends 2007,” a report from the Food Marketing Institute released last month.

Overall productivity and dispensing have risen, the report said, allowing for growth in the form of health and wellness programs.

For example, prescription sales as a percentage of total supermarket store sales were at 9.5% in 2006, up from 9% in 2005. The median of average weekly prescription sales per store rose to $42,000 from $30,000, with a significant group of respondents reporting weekly sales of more than $50,000. “This indicates that weekly prescription sales are likely to continue to increase,” the report said.

The median number of prescriptions dispensed per day was 125, up from 120, the report said.

“In-store programs have expanded as pharmacies become a bigger player in food retail stores,” the report said. Over half of all supermarket pharmacies offer in-store programs to turn shoppers into pharmacy customers.

About 60% offer health-focused recipes, seminars and disease management programs. About 40% use health-focused shelf tags, store tours, walk-in clinics and nutrition counseling.

“Supermarket pharmacies are becoming integral to the success of health and wellness programs,” said Bill Greer, FMI director of communications.

“Those that help consumers prevent and manage illnesses with the right combination of medicines and healthy foods perform an invaluable service that gives supermarkets a decided competitive advantage. Here lies the most promising future for supermarket pharmacies, already proved by many of the industry's most successful retailers.”

A total of 51 companies representing 5,595 pharmacies participated in the survey.