Fred's Inc. and subsidiaries operate in 15 states in the southeastern United States with 304 full-service pharmacy departments located within Fred's stores, including four franchised locations. Additionally, Fred's Inc. has 57 Xpress pharmacy locations, three specialty pharmacy locations and more than 650 discount general merchandise stores chain-wide. Fred's stocks more than 12,000 frequently purchased items addressing the daily needs of its customers.
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History
The first Fred's store opened in Coldwater, Mississippi in 1947. In 1953, Fred's moved its corporate headquarters to Memphis, Tennessee.
Fred's primarily competes against national, deep-discount chains Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree, and, against independently owned stores. In the past few years, it and other deep-discount retailers have taken some market share away from major discount chains like Walmart, as well. Most locations are in towns with populations of 15,000 or less.
The company has two distribution centers: one in Memphis, another in Dublin, Georgia.
Fred's Inc. owns and operates two additional chains, Getwell Drug & Dollar and Yazoo Trading Company.
Getwell Drug & Dollar is a pharmacy destination that also offers over-the-counter medication and individualized patient care. Locations across Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi also feature more than 1,700 one-dollar items.
Yazoo Trading Company offers hardware, auto, and pet and animal supplies. Five locations across Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia also provide basic home project needs.
In 2008, Fred's decided to close over 50 under-performing stores due to rising fuel costs and other economic issues. For example, several North Carolina locations were closed, leaving over a dozen stores in that state.
On December 21, 2016, it was announced that Fred's would acquire 865 stores as a result of the Walgreens/Rite Aid merger expected to close in 2017 for the price of $950 Million USD. The acquisition would more than double the number of stores Fred's currently operates. While the Walgreens/Rite Aid deal itself is expected to get federal approval under the Obama administration before the Trump administration takes effect, the sale to Fred's may be scrutinized, due to a belief that Fred's may be overextending itself, with Haggen having purchased some stores divested in the Albertsons/Safeway merger and its subsequent bankruptcy (and ironically being purchased by Albertsons itself) being listed as a recent example. Fred's, Walgreens, and Rite Aid wouldn't discuss which stores would be divested, but it is expected that the stores will be in markets where the combined Walgreens/Rite Aid would have a monopolistic market share without the divestiture such as California, Michigan, New York, and Western Pennsylvania, well outside of Fred's traditional footprint. Fred's plans to keep the Rite Aid name on acquired locations during a 24-month transition period to the Fred's name.
Philanthropy
Fred's currently donates either through corporate donation or voluntary in-store requests to several national charities.
- American Cancer Society - employees have donated their time and financial support for the American Cancer Society through their involvement in "Making Strides" events. Since becoming involved in the annual walk in 2004, the Fred's teams have raised more than $187,404.
- Children's Miracle Network Hospitals - stores have helped raise more than $5.5 million to benefit the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Shoppers are able to purchase a Miracle Balloon at any Fred's location. All the proceeds from the sale of the paper balloons will benefit the Children's Miracle Network Hospital in the community where the Miracle Balloon was purchased. With each donation, customers receive a coupon for $1 off two bags of Mars Candy. The 2013 campaign set a record with a total of $746,286 raised, which was a 16.9 percent increase over the 2012 campaign total.
- "Hero Hats" - stores have commemorated the fallen heroes of 9/11 through a fundraiser for the emergency teams that serve their store locations. Through September 11, Fred's "Super Dollar" sells "Hero Hats" for $1 each, with all proceeds going to select emergency teams near store locations. In 2014, Last year, through their chain-wide efforts, Fred's raised a total of $255,642 to be donated to local emergency teams across their regions. Since the campaign began in 2002, the company has raised and donated more than $2.5 million for local fire, police, and sheriff departments. In addition, all operating profits from store sales on September 11 are also donated.
- The "Panda Pals" Program - the campaign is designed to benefit animal care, conservation and research at the Memphis Zoo. Customers at the 182 Fred's stores located in a 200-mile radius of the zoo generously donate during the annual event. Since it began in 2003, the Panda Pal program has contributed more than $750,000 to the Memphis Zoo.
- United Way of America - employees have participated in fundraising since 1999 and have donated more than $500,000 since 2005.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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