Study: Drug stores win back consumers

CHICAGO According to a new study by Information Resources Inc., consumers are visiting drug stores more often and spending more time shopping while they are there. The study found that the average basket size increased by 6.9% versus last year, which is nearly three times the total industry increase across all CPG outlets.

“As the supercenter format matures, competing retailer differentiation strategies have taken hold,” said IRI chief marketing officer Andrew Salzman. “We’re seeing remarkable gains within the drug store channel, as drug store retailers leverage core strengths in health and beauty to bring consumers into their stores and drive incremental purchases. The battle for consumer trips is in full swing as time constrained shoppers look to accomplish more in less time, and drug stores are clearly stepping up to the challenge.”

The study shows that drug stores captured a half-point share gain in total CPG spending this past year. This was the largest increase of any channel, including supercenters.

According to the report, the channel either maintained or increased share across all CPG departments, with a full two-point share gain in health and beauty care products, largely at the expense of the mass merchandise and grocery channels.  However, drug stores also pulled share from supercenters in select categories, such as internal analgesics and razor blades.