Marsh Sells all Pharmacies to CVS

Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets is selling its pharmacy operations to CVS Health and transitioning all its pharmacy customers to nearby CVS stores this week.

Tom Mulligan, a Marsh spokesman, confirmed that the grocery chain is closing all 37 of its pharmacies, but declined to say why the company is selling them. “Terms [of the sale] are not being disclosed,” he said.

However, the pharmacy closures are likely to be linked to an overall weak financial performance. Marsh said it would be closing three of its stores on May 6, and seven of its stores in mid-May.

"We are closing the stores due to sustained weak performance," said David Palmer, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Advertising, according to the Indy Star. "This is a very difficult decision for us as we have been serving these communities for many years and have many great relationships with our valued customers."

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Marsh pharmacy staff can apply for jobs with CVS Health, according to Mulligan.

Marsh pharmacies will close over a three-day period ending on May 5.

“All of the [customer] information will simultaneously be submitted to CVS. Patients will be notified of the closest CVS store,” Mulligan said.

All four of the Indianapolis stores that are closing are involved in lawsuits from landlords who say Marsh has stopped paying rent at those locations, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal. Additionally, Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp., said that Marsh owes it nearly $105,000 for unpaid shipments of doughnuts, according to a complaint filed on April 18, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.

According to the company’s website, Marsh operates 72 Marsh Supermarkets and O’Malia Food Markets in Indiana and Ohio, and had 38 Indiana pharmacy locations. Its parent company is Sun Capital Partners, headquartered in Boca Raton, FL.