Rite Aid show draws 'team that can't be beat.'

Drug Store News, August 20, 1990

Rite Aid show draws |team that can't be beat'

HERSHEY, Pa. - More than a thousand Rite Aid associates from 22 states converged on the chocolate capital recently for the drug chain's eighth annual Management Seminar and Trade Show.

The show kicked off Sunday afternoon, July 8, with a barbecue on the Hershey Lodge lawn, where "the team that can't be beat," as the show's theme put it, feasted on chicken, ribs and corn on the cob and broke into a little clog dancing when the country and western band "Shucks" hit stride.

Chairman Alex Grass, speaking at Monday's breakfast, told the group that, following three years in which the chain acquired and assimilated 706 stores, increased its store count 60 percent, had an 86 percent increase in sales and completed chainwide installation of data collecting front-end computers and pharmacy computer upgrades, Rite Aid has emerged "a leaner, better-managed, technology-oriented and customer-serving operation."

"These past three years have been among the most active in Rite Aid's history," Grass said.

More than 300 vendors displayed their wares Monday in the convention center. Among celebrities making booth appearances were the current Miss America, Debbye Turner, for Gillette; Vidal Sassoon, Procter & Gamble; former Green Bay Packer Ray Nitschke, Empire Brush; former boxing champ Joe Frazier, Polaroid; and former Pittsburgh Steeler Franco Harris, Amurol.

In addition, there were pharmacy and front-end seminars to attend, and a computer room was set up, with systems people on hand to help attendees with computer questions.

Capping the day was a banquet, when Rite Aid bestowed its second annual Vendor of the Year awards and The Pointer Sisters brought down the house with their rhythm and blues.

The show ended Tuesday morning with a performance awards breakfast honoring outstanding Rite Aid employees.

PHOTO : Gilbert Smith, president of Helene Curtis Consumer Products division, accepts Rite Aid's Vendor of the Year gold award from chairman Alex Grass, right, and vp-purchasing Kevin Mann.

PHOTO : James Bernd, president, Household Products division of Kimberly-Clark, accepts silver Vendor of the Year award from Rite Aid chairman Alex Grass, right and vp-purchasing Kevin Mann.

PHOTO : Left: The Pointer Sisters provided topnotch entertainment at Rite Aid banquet, capping a day of pharmacy and front-end seminars and manufacturers' exhibits.

PHOTO : Right: Rite Aid kicked off its Management Seminar and Trade Show in July with a barbecue on Hershey Lodge's grounds. From left are Rite Aid's Bob Sloane, vp-adminstration; Bob Souder, sr. vp-personnel; and Jim KraSouder, sr. vp-personnel; and Jim Krahulec, vp-government/trade relations.

PHOTO : Bob Ernsberger, vp-trade development, receives bronze Vendor award for Whitehall Labs, American Home Products Corp.

PHOTO : Part of "the team that can't beat," Rite Aid fronted managers from West Virginia pose in front of giant Polaroid balloon at barbecue.

PHOTO : Adorning Gillette booth, Miss America Debye Turner chats with Jay Overcash, left, Gillette Safety Razor division, and Stan Murphy, Personal Care division.

PHOTO : Lever Bros.' John Hooper greets Joyce Gilig of Rite Aid as she tours booths at trade show.