ShopKo Stores Inc. (Green Bay, Wis.) has announced that it will open three more of its 15,000-square-foot Express stores in its home state of Wisconsin.
Construction will begin this fall in Ledgeview, Wis., and in Howard, Wis., located near Green Bay. Both stores are scheduled to open in mid-January 2005.
In addition, ShopKo has purchased an existing neighborhood drug store, Port Apothecary, in Port Washington, Wis., approximately 20 miles north of Milwaukee. Beginning in October, the pharmacy/retail store will be completely remodeled and converted to the ShopKo Express format, keeping the full-scale liquor department currently at Port Apothecary and expand the selection of convenience foods, beverages and household goods.
ShopKo Express is a neighborhood drug store format focused on providing professional pharmacy services, health and wellness products and information, home business solutions, photo processing, as well as a convenient assortment of food and beverages and traditional drug store merchandise.
“ShopKo’s historical roots are in providing . . . pharmacy services to our customers,” said Sam Duncan, ShopKo president and ceo. “We know this business very well and, as the baby boom generation ages, the demand for these products and services is growing. ShopKo Express will provide customers with a unique blend of professional services and products currently not available under one roof, in a convenient neighborhood setting.”
Retail health operations at ShopKo have grown 16 percent in the last three years and now represent more than 26 percent of the company’s total sales. ShopKo pharmacies filled 3.2 million prescriptions in 2003.