The high hopes retailers had for in-store clinics may not yet quite be dashed nor their plans to create a profitable business from treating consumers' minor ailments. However, Kroger and its The Little Clinic business are following in the steps of others with the closing of some facilities.
Kroger, which bought the rest of The Little Clinic it did not already own in February, closed clinics in 20 of its stores. The grocer said the move was part of its focuse on "strengthening" the business model of the company. Kroger said it would "revisit expansion plans for 2011 and beyond once it completes the process of streamlining its operations."
"We see the Little Clinic as an essential part of our commitment to health and wellness," Kroger spokeswoman Meghan Glynn told the Nashville Business Journal. "What's intriguing for us is the convenience and affordability that these clinics offer customers."
Discussion Questions: Why are retailers having such an apparently difficult time making in-store clinics work? What's the fix?