Wellby Super Drug
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail pharmacy |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Defunct | 1992 |
| Fate | Sold majority of stores to Rite Aid; integrated into Hannaford supermarkets' pharmacy departments |
Area served | Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont |
| Parent | Hannaford Brothers |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2019) |
Wellby Super Drug was a network of 41 drugstores serving Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont between 1973 and 1992. It functioned as a wholly owned division of Hannaford Brothers, the leading grocery retailer in northern New England.
Typically, Wellby outlets were situated adjacent to Hannaford's Shop 'n Save supermarkets.[1]
History
Hannaford Brothers launched its venture into the retail pharmacy sector in 1973 by establishing three Wellby Super Drug locations throughout Maine. From inception, these stores were directly owned by the parent company. By 1987, the chain expanded to encompass 36 stores.[2]
The repeal of Maine’s blue law in 1990, which had mandated Sunday closures for stores exceeding 5,000 square feet, allowed Shop 'n Save supermarkets to operate on Sundays and include in-store pharmacy services. This development rendered the standalone Wellby outlets less essential within Hannaford’s business model.[1]
By 1992, Wellby accounted for under five percent of Hannaford's overall revenue. Consequently, Hannaford chose to divest 34 of its 41 freestanding Wellby Super Drug shops, selling them to Rite Aid.[2]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The company redirected its focus toward integrating pharmacy departments directly inside its grocery stores.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 2023, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Although Wellby ceased operations more than three decades earlier, it remained listed in Rite Aid’s bankruptcy documentation.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
On May 5, 2025, Rite Aid initiated a second Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing within two years, reporting assets and liabilities ranging from $1 billion to $10 billion. As part of this process, Rite Aid plans to liquidate all assets amid ongoing financial pressures including debt burdens, heightened market competition, and inflationary costs; this includes assets associated with Wellby Super Drug.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
References
External links
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- Pharmacies in the United States (defunct)
- Retail businesses founded in 1973
- Companies that entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023
- Companies that entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2025
- Retail businesses closed in 1992
- Rite Aid
- Defunct Maine-based companies
- Scarborough, Maine
- Maine-based health care companies
- Defunct pharmacies of the United States