Rexall

Rexall was the name of a chain of North American drug stores, as well as the name of their store-branded products. Today it is the name of over-the-counter drugs in Canada and health-supplements in the United States.

Founding

In 1902 Louis Liggett persuaded 40 independent drug stores to invest $4,000 in a retailers cooperative called United Drug Stores, which began to sell products under the Rexall name. After World War I, the cooperative established a franchise whereby independently owned retail outlets adopted the Rexall trade name, and sold Rexall products. The company was based in Boston, Massachusetts at what is now on the campus of Northeastern University.

Growth

Justin Whitlock Dart, heir to the Walgreen's Drugstore chain, took control of Boston-based United Drug Company in 1943. The chain operated under Liggett, Owl, Sonta, and Rexall brands, which Dart rebranded the stores under the Rexall name.

In 1946, United-Rexall Drug Inc. purchased the Renfro chain in Texas. It also launched a chain of what were called Owl Superstores. As of 1958, the Rexall Drug Company chain was the largest U.S. drug store chain, with 11,158 stores, which Time Magazine noted that 2/3 of its stores were in areas where 1/3 of the population lived. However, this comprised more than 20% of all drug stores in the United States.

Dart sold his stake in Rexall in 1978 though Dart had acquired stakes in Avon, West Bend, Duracell, Hobart, and Ralph Wilson Plastics and Archer Glass, which were collectively Dart Industries (later Premark International).

Decline

In 1977, the Rexall chain was sold to private investors for $16 million. The investors divested the stores, though existing retailers were able to keep the name. However, these tended to be weaker stores, and very few kept the name as time progressed. The company did continue to distribute vitamins, health foods, and plastic items.

Rexall-Sundown

Rexall-Sundown, which acquired the Rexall trademark in 1985, produces nutritional supplements. Otherwise, Rexall-Sundown has no relationship to the Rexall chain of drugstores or the Canadian maker of medicines and sundries. Sundown, a maker of suntan lotion was founded in 1976 by Carl DeSantis. The company markets via mail-order, on store shelves, and other techniques of multi-level marketing. The comapny now sells herbals products and vitamins, and went public in 1993 on NASDAQ. It was acquired by Royal Numico, a Netherlands-based company that also owns General Nutrition Centers.

Rexall PharmAssist

In Canada, Rexall maintained a better reputation than the United States. The Pharmx Rexall Drug stores are operated by Katz Group Canada, which also operates The Medicine Shoppe, PharmaPlus, Guardian Drug Stores and I.D.A. pharmacies. The company has grouped its different chains under the name PharmAssist, and is using the Rexall name for private-label health products sold in all five chains.

Sports Venues

Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta is the home of the Edmonton Oilers. The naming rights were paid for by Katz Group Canada, which sells Rexall products in Canada. The Rexall Centre tennis courts are in Toronto, Canada.

References

• The Rexall Story: A History of Genius and Neglect by Mickey C. Smith
  • ISBN 9780789024729
  • ISBN 0789024721

See also

External links

• 1958 Time Magazine article (payment required)
• 1946 Time Magazine article (payment required)
• 1949 Time Magazine article (payment required)
• Rexall-Sundown history
• The Rexall Tradition
• Katz Group launches nationwide integration, branding campaign – Pharm Assist – Drug Store News
• PharmAssist