Loblaw vs. Shoppers Drug Mart: the grocer is opening more pharmacies

Loblaw vs. Shoppers Drug Mart: the grocer is opening more pharmacies

The great retail faceoff

Back in February, Shoppers Drug Mart announced that it would expand its food offerings. Now, in an attempt to shake Shoppers’ stranglehold on pharmacy sales, Loblaw has opened its first small-format pharmacy in Mississauga.

The grocer already has large drug stores in half of its 1,000 Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstores and No Frills, but the new concept will bring 400-square-foot designs to its smaller stores. According to Reuters, Loblaw is courting shoppers by cutting prescription fees and extending hours—a direct assault on Shoppers, which reduced hours at some locations after Ontario cut prescription drug prices.

Loblaw opens its first “small-format” pharmacy [Reuters]
Shoppers Drug cuts store hours in SW Ontario [Reuters]

(Images: Loblaw by i2n2, Shoppers by mjb84.)