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USA DRUG GROWING FORCE IN TOUGH ECONOMY, CEO SAYS

By Ezra Mann/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Friday, October 10, 2008 11:32 PM CDT

For 24 years Pine Bluff has been proud of its ties to USA Drug, one of the city’s most successful assets which employs about 400-500 people locally.

Joe Courtright, USA Drug president and chief executive officer, addressed the Kiwanis Club of Pine Bluff Wednesday afternoon at the Pine Bluff Country Club. Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald

That was the sentiment of Joe Courtright, USA Drug president and chief executive officer, who spoke to the Kiwanis Club of Pine Bluff Wednesday.

Part of the company’s success included SAJ Distributors as well as acquiring Super D Drugs, May’s Drug Stores, Drug Warehouse, Med-X Drugs and Ike’s Discount stores, added Courtright. Select Brand Distributors was another addition established in 1986. There are about 140 stores in the state as well as Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi and Missouri.

During the meeting, Courtright also discussed the history of the pharmacy business that has seen the creation of many treatment options from basic medicines including penicillin to synthetic drugs. USA Drug may be the largest existing family run pharmacy chain in America, said Courtright.

The history of the company goes back even further to 1968 when founder Steve LaFrance, who also attended the meeting, formed Stephen L. LaFrance Pharmacy Inc., which later became USA Drug. The company continues to do well, though Courtright said that the biggest problem they face is increasing government interference, which leads to more expensive products all over the pharmaceutical industry.

One of newer projects is the Easy Access Medical Clinic, which operates inside the USA Drugstore at 4720 Dollarway Road and is operated by nurse practitioners Wannetta Clowers and Roslyn Summerville. Dr. John Harris, an area physician, owns the clinic and rents the space within the store.

Future plans for the company include a new 4,000-square foot location near the intersection of Ohio Street and Harding Avenue to replace the oldest USA Drug pharmacy at the Broadmoor Shopping Center. Construction on the new location is expected to begin in a couple of weeks with plans to open by February.

There are also plans to open a 15,000-square foot location within a year or more in White Hall along U.S. 270, though plans are subject to change.

Additionally, the drug store is getting ready to start a donation drive for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation where customers can buy a paper sneaker for $1.

“There’s even an inner contest to see which stores can raise more money,” said LaFrance. “We anticipate raising $50,000.”

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