Kroger buys Shopko Pharmacy business

Kroger Co. announced it is purchasing a portion of Shopko Inc.’s pharmacy business, in a move that means Shopko Pharmacy customers in Wisconsin will have their prescriptions moved to a Kroger-owned grocery store.

Cincinnati-based Kroger owns Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc., which includes Pick ‘n Save, Copps and Metro Market locations in Wisconsin. It is the nation’s second largest retailer.

Kroger will take over the pharmacy business at 42 Shopko locations, with 25 of those in Wisconsin. Stores in Northeast Wisconsin include Appleton, Menasha, Neenah, Kimberly, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan.

The sale of the pharmacy business comes a few days after Shopko said it is closing 39 stores, mostly in small towns, in 14 states. The only Wisconsin store closing is in Mauston.