The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 264 No 7092 p575
April 15, 2000 Business

Pharmacy anchor for new Woolworths stores

Pharmacies operated by Superdrug form an "anchor" to a new chain of convenience stores being opened by Woolworths in London. Both companies are part of Kingfisher Plc. Trading under the name Woolworths General Store, three pilot sites have been opened so far at Palmers Green and Muswell Hill, north London, and Balham, south London. As well as pharmacies, the general stores include coffee bars, fruit and vegetable counters, photographic processing units and fax machines for public use. Woolworths is planning to open 10 pilot sites this year and up to 150 general stores, in addition to its 800 existing branches, over the next five years if the trial is successful.

Woolworths general store at Muswell Hill, north London, includes a new Superdrug pharmacy

Speaking to The Journal on April 10, Mr Barry Simner (pharmacy general manager, Superdrug) said that the general stores were "based on the American drug store concept of convenience, with pharmacies serving as an anchor".
The general stores are to be open from 7am to 11pm, which Mr Simner said was in line with current Government thinking that access to health care should be available for longer hours than at present.
Mr Simner added that, for the purposes of the pilot trial, existing Superdrug pharmacies had been relocated into the general stores at Balham and Palmers Green. The pharmacy at Muswell Hill was a new one. In future, it was planned to have new pharmacies in the general stores, he said.