2013/3/7 - Rite Aid Reports Same Store Sales for February

Monthly Sales
For the five weeks ended March 2, 2013, same store sales decreased 3.6 percent over the prior-year period. February front-end same store sales decreased 1.3 percent while February front-end same store sales attributable to flu-related over-the-counter products were flat. Pharmacy same store sales, which included an approximate 695 basis points negative impact from new generic introductions, decreased 4.7 percent. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 0.3 percent over the prior-year period. This number includes a decrease of 0.1 percent attributable to flu-related prescriptions and flu shots.

Total drugstore sales for the five-week period decreased 3.7 percent to $2.457 billion compared to $2.551 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales accounted for 67.7 percent of drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 96.9 percent of pharmacy sales.

Quarterly Sales
Same store sales for the 13-week period ended March 2, 2013 decreased 2.0 percent over the prior-year period. Front-end same store sales increased 0.3 percent while pharmacy same store sales decreased 3.1 percent. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 3.0 percent over the prior-year period.

Total drugstore sales for the 13-week period decreased 2.4 percent with sales of $6.425 billion compared to $6.585 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales represented 66.5 percent of total drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 96.6 percent of pharmacy sales.

Year End Sales
Same store sales for the 52-week period ended March 2, 2013 decreased 0.3 percent over the prior-year period. Front-end same store sales increased 1.4 percent while pharmacy same store sales decreased 1.0 percent. Prescription count at comparable stores increased 3.4 percent over the prior-year period.

Total drugstore sales for the 52 weeks ended March 2, 2013 decreased 0.9 percent with sales of $25.284 billion compared to $25.504 billion for the same period last year. Prescription sales represented 67.6 percent of total drugstore sales, and third party prescription sales represented 96.6 percent of pharmacy sales.

Rite Aid is one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains. On March 2, 2013, the company operated 4,623 stores compared to 4,667 stores in the like period a year ago. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company’s website at http://www.riteaid.com. Note that all sales data in this release is preliminary, unaudited and subject to revision.

Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Rite Aid expressly disclaims any current intention to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the distribution of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Rite Aid Corporation
INVESTORS:
Matt Schroeder, 717-214-8867
investor@riteaid.com
or
MEDIA:
Susan Henderson, 717-730-7766