Dive Brief:

• Southeastern Grocers announced it is partnering with ScriptDrop to give its Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers new ways to receive prescriptions, including free curbside pickup, two-day shipping for $4.99 or same-day delivery for $7.99.

• The grocer is also working with Omnicell Population Health Solutions to help pharmacists identify patients who might abuse opioids. The company has implemented a system that determines whether a patient is actively taking their medication and allows an SEG pharmacist to proactively reach out to patients to make sure they’re aware of the possible side effects of opioid abuse.

• SEG is also partnering with Safe Rx to offer customers locking pill bottles designed to help keep medicines secure and prevent misuse. The pill boxes are available at all Fresco y Más, Harveys and Winn-Dixie pharmacies.

Dive Insight:

Southeastern Grocers' new pharmacy pickup and delivery services, which other retailers like Albertsons and Costco already offer, is a way for the grocer to build loyalty among its customers and keep them from transferring prescriptions to competitors.

Seniors are a target demographic for the company. According to a Georgetown University study, 87% of those ages 65 to 79 are using prescription drugs. These patients are also likely enrolled in Medicare and have a higher chance of opioid addiction. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about one in three Medicare Part D recipients received an opioid in 2016. Out of those patients, 500,000 received high amounts and 90,000 are at risk of abuse. 

To help combat this, SEG is also rolling out a new software initiative to combat opioid addiction within its pharmacies. It will also offer the medication naloxone without a prescription. Those who are taking opioids are encouraged to have naloxone on hand in case of an overdose. 

To prevent medications from getting into the wrong hands, the grocer has made locking pill bottles available to shoppers. SEG is also launching medication take-back kiosks at six pharmacies in the Jacksonville, Florida, area. 

While many pharmacies across the grocery industry are struggling to compete against major drug store chains like CVS and Walgreens, Southeastern Grocers’ Winn-Dixie was ranked third in the country for customer satisfaction for brick-and-mortar and mail-in pharmacies by the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Pharmacy Study.

However many of SEG's new programs are already offered at some supermarket pharmacies. This year, Albertsons released a comprehensive training program for its shoppers on how to monitor and identify opioid misuse, and Kroger required its pharmacy staff to take annual controlled-substance compliance training. In addition, in 2019 Hy-Vee changed its early refilling and filling policy for opioid prescriptions. 

Last year, Hy-Vee installed drug take-back kiosks at all 276 of its pharmacies. Kroger, H-E-B and Albertsons have all partnered with DisposeRx to allow customers to safely dispose of unused drugs. These grocers also administer naloxone to customers.