Comparable store sales performance

Drug Store News, April 28, 1997

Comp store sales performance, the measure of sales performance of stores open at least a year, shone brightly in 1996, as virtually every chain improved its performance in this crucial measurement.

In 1995, no chains recorded comp store sales increases in the double digits. This year, 12 chains did. Of the top 10 chains, CVS led the pack, with an impressive 10.9 percent comp store sales performance, up from its 8.8 percent performance in 1995. Also recording double digits was Medicine Shoppe at 10 percent, up from its 9 percent performance last year.

Industry leader Walgreen improved its comp store performance to 8.5 percent, up from 1995's 7.2 percent. Rite Aid also recorded a better performance, 7.9 percent, compared to 1995's 6.6 percent. Eckerd's growth was up a bit less, to 8.8 percent from last year's 8.5 percent. American Drug Stores recorded a 6 percent comp store sales performance, up from 1995's 4.7 percent. Revco, recovering from the impact of the failed merger with Rite Aid, grew sales at a respectable 8 percent, although it was a performance less than 1995's 9.4 percent.

Longs turned in its best comp store sales performance ever, recording a 4.1 percent performance, dramatically improved over 1995's 0.7 percent increase. Phar-Mor inched along the turnaround path in 1996, recording a 3 percent increase in comp store sales, compared to a negative 7.3 percent decrease, a statistic that reflected a 28.7 percent decrease in the number of stores from 1994 to 1995.

$ sales                Company               in comp store sales
  rank                                          1995-1996

 1           Walgreen Co.                         8.5%
 2           Rite Aid Corp. (1)                   7.9
 3           CVS                                 10.9
 4           Eckerd Corp. (2)                     8.8
 5           American Drug Stores                 6.0
 6           Revco D.S. (3)                       8.0
 7           Longs Drug Stores                    4.1
 9           Drug Emporium                        0
10           Phar-Mor                             3.0
11           Medicine Shoppe International       10.0
12           Arbor Drugs                         10.0
14           Genovese                             8.2
15           Brooks Pharmacy                     10.8
16           K&B Services                         2.4
17           Marc's                              NA
18           Duane Reade                          8.0
19           Discount Drug Mart                   4.0
20           Harco Drug                          NA
21           Rockbottom                           0
22           Drug Fair/Cost Cutter                2.4
23           Pharmhouse                          NA
24           Snyder's Drugs                       5.0
25           Super D Drugs                        3.7
26           Happy Harry's Discount Drugs        11.0
27           Kinney Drugs                        10.0
28           Sav-Mor                              0
29           Bartell Drug                        NA
30           Thriftway                            6.0
31           Medicap Pharmacies                  NA
32           Thrifty Drug Stores (4)              6.9
33           Big A/Drug Barn                     NA
34           May's Drug Stores                   10.0
35           Navarro                              9.0
36           Medic Discount                       5.0
37           DrugTown                             7.5
38           Arrow Corp.                         12.2
39           Hi-School Pharmacy                   5.0
40           Texas Drug Warehouse                 0
41           Harmon Discount Stores              10.0
42           Love's Stores                        0
43           Fruth Pharmacy                       9.0
44           Edgehill Drugs                      18.0
45           Sedano's                            10.0
46           Med-X Corp.                          0
47           Lewis Drugs                          2.0
48           Fedco Inc.                           0
49           True Quality                        10.0
50           Mediserv                             2.0

(1) This figure does not reflect Rite Aid's acquisition of Thrifty Payless.

(2) This figure does not reflect the merger with Thrift Drug.

(3) This figure does not reflect Revco's acquisition of Big B.

(4) Formerly Thrifty-White

Source: Drug Store News, Chain Store Guide Note: Big B (sales rank #13) and Thrift (sales rank #18) not included in this chart. NA=not available.