Grocery chain adds retail clinics

Grocery chain Winn-Dixie Stores has become the latest entrant in the retail clinic sweepstakes. The company, which operates 521 stores in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi, is partnering with Birmingham, AL-based Wellspot Medical Clinics. Winn-Dixie will begin its program with three locations in Jacksonville, FL, and roll out clinics nationwide by the end of 2007. The partnership should significantly expand Wellspot's national footprint, as it only serves Alabama and South Carolina at present.

In forming this partnership, Winn-Dixie joins a growing number of large retailers launching walk-in clinics, including Wal-Mart and Publix Super Markets. This puts them into competition with drugstore chains like CVS, RiteAid and Walgreens, of course, which have gone into the retail clinic market even more aggressively.

For more background on the Winn-Dixie deal:
- read this article in the Orlando Business Journal