Leading grocery chain
Supervalu Inc.
(
SVU
) has started offering flu vaccines to its customers at its
pharmacy locations. They also have trained pharmacists at the
stores who are also responsible for administering the vaccines.
Traditional flu vaccines, needle-free FluMist nasal spray, Fluzone
Intradermal and the Fluzone HD for patients aged 65 and above will
be available at stores of Supervalu Pharmacies. The shots will be
administered at regular pharmacy hours on a walk-in or an
appointment basis.
Supervalu Pharmacies has 800 locations spread across 25 states and
operates under 10 retail brands, namely, Acme Sav-on Pharmacy,
Albertsons Sav-on Pharmacy, Albertsons Osco Pharmacy, Cub Pharmacy,
Farm Fresh Pharmacy, Jewel-Osco Pharmacy, Shaw's Osco Pharmacy,
Shop 'n Save Pharmacy, Shop 'n Save Osco Pharmacy and Shoppers
Pharmacy.
Supervalu Pharmacies has been offering adult immunizations since
2000. Apart from administering flu vaccines, Supervalu pharmacy
locations also provide immunizations for influenza, pneumococcal
disease, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B,
cervical cancer, shingles and meningococcal meningitis.
The retail chain also provides travel vaccine clinics where
customers are immunized if they are traveling to other nations.
The vaccination program is expected to boost the second
quarter fiscal 2013 sales. The vaccination program is expected to
gain popularity as it is strongly recommended by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
First Quarter Results
The company delivered poor first quarter fiscal 2013 earnings per
share of 19 cents, sharply lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate
of 38 cents and the prior-year quarter earnings of 35 cents a
share.
The lower-than-expected results were due to the disappointing
same-store sales during the quarter coupled with disposition of
several fuel centers owned by the company.
Revamp Initiatives
The company has undertaken several initiatives like 'fair price
plus promotion strategy,' cost-reduction program, reduction of
capital expenditures and also decided to suspend the quarterly
dividend in order to be at par with its competitors, have financial
flexibility as well as to have a strong balance sheet.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 16 cents for the second
quarter of fiscal 2013 and 66 cents for fiscal 2013.
Supervalu, along with its subsidiaries, operates retail and
wholesale food stores in the United States and has its headquarter
in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The company faces stiff competition
from
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
(
WMT
),
The Kroger Co.
(
KR
) and
Safeway Inc.
(
SWY
).
Currently, Supervalu carries a Zacks #4 Rank (short-term Sell
rating).
KROGER CO (KR): Free Stock Analysis Report
SUPERVALU INC (SVU): Free Stock Analysis Report
SAFEWAY INC (SWY): Free Stock Analysis Report
WAL-MART STORES (WMT): Free Stock Analysis
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