Rite Aid to Emphasize Private Label

NEW YORK — When it comes to boosting front-end productivity, Rite Aid has its eyes on private label.

Company president and chief operating officer Mary Sammons, speaking at a retail conference sponsored by Goldman Sachs Wednesday, said developing private brands "allows us to save customers money — 25 percent — but also allows us to improve gross profit by more than that 25 percent. That is important when you have to be competitive."