Suburban sprawl promotes competition in Twin Cities: No. 1 ranked Target and the area's third-largest company, Best Buy, have set their sites on expanding in the world of pharmacy and health-related retailing

Drug Store News, June 6, 2005 by Laura Heller

According to PrairieStone management, the system is attracting pharmacists who are eager to work for the upstart--not to mention retailers looking to gain a slice of the pharmacy market--as well as customers who appreciate the higher levels of interaction with the pharmacist and more personalized service.

Whether PrairieStone ever grows into a powerhouse pharmacy operation, its innovations may forever affect the market.

PHOENIX: WHO'S WINNING *

                       2004 Rx     2004 front-end    Total shares
                    market share   market share **       w/Rx

Walgreens               37.2%           53.6%             77
Snyder's                10.6            28.1              56
Wal-Mart                 7.6             NA               24
Fairview Pharmacy        6.0             1.6              19
Target                   5.6             NA               38

Source: Chain Store Guides 2004 Drug Industry Market Share Report

* Market defined as Minneapolis-St. Paul and Bloomington, Wis.

** Reflects drug stores only

MINNEAPOLIS: THE STAKES *

Population                                    3,092,762
No. of households                             1,190,247
Median disposable income ([dagger])             $48,401
Total Rx sales **                                $951.4
Total front-end ([dagger][dagger]) sales **      $404.4

THE SIDES

Drug stores                                         351
Supermarkets                                        412
Mass merchants                                      123
Warehouse clubs                                      11

Source: Chain Store Guides 2004 Drug Industry Market
Share Report

* Market defined as Minneapolis-St. Paul and Bloomington,
Wis.

** Sales in millions

([dagger]) Per household

([dagger][dagger]) Reflects drug stores only.