Top trending: Delaware Shoprite pharmacies closed; Prescriptions move to CVS

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Shoprite pharmacies in northern Delaware closed in January.

“The store pharmacy in Bear and three other pharmacies in the Wilmington area  are closing this month and we are notifying our customers that their prescriptions will be securely and confidentially transferred to a local and nearby CVS pharmacy,” said Karen O’Shea, spokesperson for Shoprite supplier Wakefern Foods.

 “We are working to make this a seamless transition and thank all our pharmacy customers for their patronage and patience. Customers will also see signs with additional information at our pharmacy counters,” O’Shea stated.

The pharmacies slated to close  are operated by Kenny Family Markets. President Chris Kenny did not comment on the closing

Shoprite stores carry their  name and are supplied by Wakefern  but typically have owners who operate multiple stores.

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Grocery store chains have been exiting the pharmacy business as competitive pressures increase from dominant chains, like  Walgreens, CVS and Walmart. Albertsons, which owns Safeway and Acme stores in Delaware, has retained its pharmacies. 

Discount store chain  Target exited the business five years ago and sold its in-store locations  to CVS. BJ’s Wholesale Club closed its pharmacies several years ago.

At the same time, a number of independently  pharmacies have opened around the state as the business lost the local touch that was part of the Happy Harry’s chain that was acquired by Walgreens nearly a decade and a half ago.

The closing is not good news when it comes to the nation and state’s coronavirus vaccination effort. Pharmacists are key players in vaccinating a state with 975,000 residents.

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