Ukrop's eyes family practice setting

Drug Store News, April 28, 2003

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Ukrop's Super Markets is negotiating with a physicians' group in its home market of Richmond, Va., to open a new food/drug combo store that will adjoin a medical center staffed by family practice physicians.

In an interview at the Food Marketing Institute's annual supermarket pharmacy conference here, Ukrop's director of pharmacy and health services, John Beckner, revealed plans by the company to complete the new combo store in time for a grand opening this fall. Beckner said the store would adjoin the clinic and would feature a separate entrance so patients can walk right from the doctors' office into the Ukrop's pharmacy.

"It s a family practice group of a bout seven physicians," Beckner commented. "We're looking at an opening in about mid-November."

Ukrop's operates 27 supermarkets in northern Virginia, including 20 with pharmacies and 12 with health- and nutritional-information kiosks.