Pharmacy still driving sales at Rite Aid

Same store sales increased 2.1% at Rite Aid in May thanks in large part to growth in the retailer's pharmacy division.



Total sales for Rite Aid's first quarter reached $6.6 billion on 2.8% growth. The company has scheduled a conference call to discuss the quarter with analysts on June 18.



For the quarter, prescription sales represented 69.1% of total sales, and third-party prescription sales represented 97.7% of pharmacy sales.



Rite Aid same-store sales were up 2.1% for the five weeks ended May 30, with a front-end same-store sales increase of 0.1% and a pharmacy same-store sales increase of 3%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 0.7% over the prior-year period.



Total drug store sales for the five-week period increased 2% to $2.5 billion. Prescription sales accounted for 68.7% of drug store sales, and third-party prescription sales represented 97.8% of pharmacy sales.



Rite Aid operates 4,566 stores nationwide.