KROGER INSTALLING REMOTE RX KIOSKS

LIZA CASABONA

CINCINNATI -- A remodeled Kroger store in Bellevue, Tenn., will feature a new remote pharmacy kiosk located in the parking lot.

The kiosk is being installed instead of the pharmacy drive-thru, said published reports. Due to location constraints, such as stores very close on either side of the building, a drive-thru couldn't be added to the store.

"You'll just pull up to [the kiosk], and it will work much like a traditional drive-thru. The [pharmacy staff] can talk to you, and they'll ask you to drop in your prescription. It will serve just like a regular pickup point, except it's in the middle of the parking lot," said Melissa Eads, spokeswoman, Kroger, Cincinnati, in media reports.

Kroger executives did not respond to requests for comment.

The remodeled store is expected to be completed this fall. Two other Kroger stores in Cool Springs and Goodlettsville, Tennessee have similar kiosks set up for pharmacy services. The kiosks in Tennessee follow a store in Cincinnati's Oakley area that opened a drive-thru pharmacy kiosk in 2003.

The changes in Bellevue are part of a $120 million commitment the chain made to remodel and construct new stores in mid-Tennessee in January of last year. Sixty percent of the investment was allocated for adding auxiliary features like fuel centers, drive-thru pharmacies, one-hour photo labs and natural foods departments, according to company statements at the time.