Chain Drug Review, April 29, 2019

State of the Industry The Chains Hy Vee Hy Vee focuses on customers journey to wellness state management through nutrition and close to 1000 pharmacists bring their own extensive knowledge to the table The public can tap into the expertise of these professionals through such programs as the disease state focused nutritional shopping tours the company launched last August The free tours are offered weekly by in store dietitians at more than 190 Hy Vee locations throughout its eight state region focusing on the nutritional aspects of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as managing diabetes Hy Vee dietitians also lead the companys Begin healthy lifestyle and weight management programs Begin provides a foundation for weight management through detailed journals and suggestions for healthier eating Begin for Diabetes and Begin for Kids programs are also Kristin Williams available while the free Hy Vee KidsFit website and mobile app and new KidsFit Club get children excited about moving and exercise through a point based virtual system Hy Vee pharmacies are destinations for vaccines and not just flu and pneumonia shots Whether through collaborative practice agreements or other means Hy Vees pharmacists are practicing at the top of their licenses by providing a wide array of immunizations for all ages And Hy Vees recent acquisition of Shopko and Weber Judd pharmacies is giving the company the opportunity to support even more patients on their health and wellness journeys see story below for details Earlier this year Hy Vee unveiled its expanded discount medications list to assist customers with lowering their health care costs The new list includes an increased number of cholesterol diabetes gastrointestinal mental health and womens and mens health medications including commonly prescribed antibiotics offered at discounted prices Medications on the list are available to all patients and there are no enrollment fees Additionally a new 90 day supply discount is available for common medications in the cholesterol diabetes and heart health blood pressure categories making it easy for patients to get a 90 day supply for a great value noted Williams Hy Vee remains dedicated to providing medications at a low cost to help our patients achieve better health outcomes She added that prescription management including transfers is easy via the free Hy Vee mobile app for both iOS and Android devices For many of the patients and families in the markets Hy Vee serves health care is the fastest growing expense Williams noted We care deeply about each customer from the fresh foods we offer to the medications we dispense she said By enhancing our discount medications list we hope this lightens the load of our customers health care costs Further enhancing Hy Vee as a one stop health and wellness shop are more than 70 leased instore walk in retail health clinics which provide exceptional care for non life threatening illnesses To serve people outside of its stores the company also has nine Hy Vee Healthy You mobile units Services from Hy Vee pharmacists and dietitians also include biometric screenings for cholesterol blood pressure blood glucose A1c and bone density levels cooking demonstrations for healthy meals and glutenfree expos Hy Vee strives each year to further enhance the patient experience both in store and virtually through new services and easier methods of communication Last year marked the fourth straight year in which a record number of flu shots were administered the opening of the companys first Hy Vee HealthMarket Rx new concept store and exciting pharmacyrelated enhancements to the companys mobile app In 2019 we will continue to utilize our strongest asset our engaged pharmacists dietitians pharmacy technicians clinic providers and chefs to focus on our patients and customers with the ultimate goal of exceeding their individual health care needs Williams said WEST DES MOINES Iowa Hy Vee Inc remains focused on the art of individualizing the health and wellness journey of its customers Consumers appetite for personalized medicine and a customized health and wellness experience is increasing noted senior vice president and chief health officer Kristin Williams Hy Vee is harnessing its current resources future innovations and partnerships to reflect the needs of our communities and is reinforcing the local roots that have been established since the company began in 1930 The retailers approach is exemplified by the collaborations occurring among its chefs dietitians and pharmacists More than 400 Hy Vee chefs provide unique meal solutions and help answer nutrition questions while over 150 dietitians make recommendations for disease Each year Hy Vee strives to enhance the patient experience Hy Vee Two acquisitions boost Rx business WEST DES MOINES Iowa In February Hy Vee announced two major acquisitions that will extend the reach of the supermarket retailers pharmacy business The chain acquired the business of 10 Weber Judd pharmacies Weber Judd has served the Rochester Minn area since 1862 Weber Judd has been an exemplary provider of pharmacy care for more than 150 years Combining Weber Judd with our Hy Vee Pharmacy family is a perfect match because we both pride ourselves on providing an excellent experience to our customers said Randy Edeker Hy Vees chairman president and chief executive officer We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to provide this same personalized care for the Weber Judd family of patients and communities Patient files will automatically transfer to Hy Vee and the pharmacies will be named Hy Vee HealthMarket Rx locations The Weber Judd pharmacy inside the Hy Vee Barlow Plaza location will be rebranded as a Hy Vee pharmacy and patient files will remain at this location The chain also acquired six Shopko pharmacies in Forest City Toledo Mt Ayr and Emmetsburg Iowa St Peter Minn and West Point Neb All six locations have become Hy Vee pharmacies As we continue to grow our pharmacy business we pride ourselves on providing an excellent experience to our customers Edeker added We provide customized care for each person who walks through our door Our pharmacy teams go above and beyond to provide numerous services to our patients so we can help them understand and assist with caring for their specific health care needs TOP EXECUTIVE Randy Edeker chairman president CEO HEADQUARTERS 5820 Westown Parkway West Des Moines Iowa 50266 Phone 515 267 2800 Website hy vee com INDUSTRY RANK 27 in sales 31 in stores Full year results Sales 1 3 billion Net earnings N A Comparable store sales N A Number of pharmacies 266 Number of states operating 8 Number of pharmacies opened in FY 2019 7 Number of pharmacies closed in FY 2019 0 Number of pharmacies planned for 2019 N A Average store size 15000 sq ft Distribution Distribution centers Other businesses Retail clinics Hy Vee chose to share its retail pharmacy information for 2018 versus the drug store only information shared in 2017 Along with stand alone drug stores Hy Vee operates 249 food drug combination stores in eight states and eight standalone drug stores Companywide sales were 102 billion N A Not available 212 Chain Drug Review April 29 2019