Grocery store giant Albertsons is preparing to expand healthcare and pharmacy “eCommerce offerings” as it prepares to merge with drugstore chain Rite Aid.
Pending Rite Aid shareholders vote August 9 to approve the deal, Albertsons said Monday the deal is expected to “close early in the second half of calendar year 2018.” The fate of shareholder approval is unclear with a campaign from some stockholders working against the deal.
But Albertsons executives said during their fiscal first quarter earnings call Monday morning that that they are forging ahead with expansion of healthcare and specialty pharmacy services as well as testing home delivery pharmacy, which is underway. In the company’s fiscal first quarter that ended June 16, Albertsons said eCommerce sales, “including Plated meal kits grew 108%.” Albertsons executives didn't disclose a specific sales number for Plated when pressed Monday morning by analysts on the company's earnings call.
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