Lunds & Byerlys to Shutter All Pharmacies

Lunds & Byerlys will shut down all 14 of its pharmacies on July 16, according to reports. 

The Minneapolis-based grocer pointed to financial pitfalls as the reason behind the closures, claiming it could no longer absorb the “significant losses," the Star Tribune reported. 

According to the Tribune, 27 pharmacy managers and staff pharmacists will lose their jobs but technicians will be offered other positions within the company. 

“Unfortunately, it has become increasingly difficult for retail pharmacies given a number of economic challenges in the industry,” according to a statement from Lund Food Holdings Inc. that was obtained by the Tribune. 

Prescriptions will be transferred to nearby Walgreens locations the day after the closures take place, but customers will have the opportunity to work with the retailer to have them transferred elsewhere if desired.

The retailer will remodel the pharmacy spaces in the affected stores, the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported.