Rite Aid’s sales rise in April

Rite Aid posted $2 billion for the four weeks ended April 26, representing a lift of 4.9%. Same-store sales increased 5% over the prior-year period.



April front-end same-store sales increased 4.7%, with 4.6% of the increase attributable to a shift in the timing of Easter, which fell on April 20 this year, compared with March 31 last year. Pharmacy same-store sales, which included an approximate 138 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, increased 5.2%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 2.3% over the prior-year period.



Prescription sales accounted for 67.9% of drug store sales, and third-party prescription sales represented 97.4% of pharmacy sales.



Same-store sales for the eight-week period ended April 26, 2014 increased 2.9% over the prior-year period. Front-end same-store sales decreased 0.2% while pharmacy same-store sales increased 4.3%. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 1.7% over the prior-year period.



Total drug store sales for the eight weeks ended April 26, 2014 increased 2.6% with sales of $3.9 billion. Prescription sales represented 68.7% of total drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 97.4% of pharmacy sales.