The retail pharmacy sector has changed over the past few years, driven by changing consumer habits, digital advancements, and the evolving pharmacy industry. As the retail pharmacy landscape continues to evolve, new trends are reshaping the way pharmacies operate and serve their customers.
Here are three key retail pharmacy trends to watch in 2025 and how drugstores can adapt to meet the changing needs of their customers.
Shrinking Brick-and-Mortar Footprints
Brick-and-mortar retail pharmacy chains Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS are closing stores as they face increasing operational challenges. A recent report from Health Affairs found that over 29% of the nearly 89,000 retail pharmacies in the U.S. that operated between 2010 and 2020 had closed by 2021. Reasons for closures vary, with some chains closing due to lack of sales or theft and safety concerns, and others rightsizing their store count amid underperforming locations. Additional problems include declining pharmacy reimbursement rates, inflation, and increasing competition.
Budget-conscious shoppers are increasingly turning to discount chains and big-box retailers to purchase necessities including personal care products and home items, with higher prices at drugstores driving them away, especially when lower-cost retailers often have pharmacies themselves. Retail pharmacies likely won’t disappear soon, but they will need to reinvent their business models to attract customers and boost sales in the future. For example, Walgreens has opened roughly 100 smaller-format stores, which have fewer front-of-store items and over-the-counter medicines and feature the company’s branded products.
Expansion of Digital Pharmacies
With the continued growth of online shopping and the increasing preference for convenience, digital pharmacies will play a pivotal role in shaping the retail pharmacy landscape in the years to come. More consumers are seeking ways to manage their health remotely, and digital pharmacies can meet this demand by offering online prescription refills, medication management services, virtual consultations, and prescription fulfillment services.
Digital pharmacies are expanding their capabilities, offering affordable and accessible pharmacy services to more customers and increasing their market share in the growing online pharmacy market. Amazon has expanded its drug savings program. Over 50 million Medicare beneficiaries are now eligible to take advantage of RxPass, an Amazon Prime benefit that offers affordable access to common medications, free delivery each month, and the ability to connect with a pharmacist 24/7.
Growth in Home Delivery Services
The pandemic has normalized home delivery for medications, and this trend is here to stay. Home delivery options are becoming a key differentiator for pharmacies aiming to enhance customer satisfaction. Retail pharmacies are increasingly partnering with logistics companies to offer same-day deliveries and meet customer expectations for fast and reliable delivery. Speedy and on-time deliveries are especially critical for patients with time-sensitive medical needs.
Walmart is integrating prescription medications into its delivery offerings in six states, with plans to expand to 49 states by the end of January 2025. When the program is fully deployed, customers will be able to choose from a suite of delivery options that include same-day scheduled delivery, on-demand delivery and express delivery within 30 minutes. Amazon plans to offer same-day prescription delivery to an additional 20 U.S. cities next year. This move will more than double the number of cities in which the company offers this service and will make same-day medication delivery available to 45% of the U.S. population by the end of 2025.
For businesses in the retail pharmacy sector, staying ahead of these trends is critical. Those who adapt to the changing needs of consumers and innovate their services will thrive, while others may struggle to keep pace in an increasingly competitive market. By embracing these trends, retail pharmacies can not only improve patient satisfaction but also enhance convenience, and ensure the accessibility of quality care in the years to come.
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