The great retail faceoff
Back in February, Shoppers Drug Mart announced that it would expand its food offerings. Now, in an attempt to shake Shoppers’ stranglehold on pharmacy sales, Loblaw has opened its first small-format pharmacy in Mississauga.
The grocer already has large drug stores in half of its 1,000 Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstores and No Frills, but the new concept will bring 400-square-foot designs to its smaller stores. According to Reuters, Loblaw is courting shoppers by cutting prescription fees and extending hours—a direct assault on Shoppers, which reduced hours at some locations after Ontario cut prescription drug prices.
• Loblaw opens its first “small-format” pharmacy [Reuters]
• Shoppers Drug cuts store hours in SW Ontario [Reuters]
(Images: Loblaw by i2n2, Shoppers by mjb84.)
three cheers for the Weston dynasty!! Now we can have a choice between SDM and it’s greed or Loblaws’ avarice
July 22, 2010 at 4:48 pm | by justmeHear, hear for more competition for SDM. They’ve got great prices…when there’s a sale (food and other products) – and that’s the only time I’ll buy anything there. As for the pharmacy, dispensing fee is too high and the wait much too long. Even though it’s slightly out of my way, I go to an independent drug store – I get personalized service, they take a cheque, and they deliver without me paying for the items first!
July 28, 2010 at 10:40 am | by EH