Whole Foods, Inc. may follow other retailers such as Walmart, CVS and Walgreens and expand into the clinic business, according to an article on the Fierce Healthcare website.
The popularity of standalone walk-in retail clinics continues to grow, with organizations often leasing space formerly occupied by stores such as Blockbuster, RadioShack and Sears due to their heavy traffic, signage opportunities and high visibility.
Whole Food's model for the clinics is Orlando, Fla.'s, Rosen Hotels & Resorts; through its employer healthcare program, Rosen Care, the lodging chain offers employees on-site care in a company-owned facility, the article said.
Expanding health services to customers may prove more difficult than offering them to employees, as the Whole Foods customers are likely to have incomes that give them wider options.
However, wellness initiatives are an unmet need for healthcare consumers, much like the demand for organic foods that led to Whole Foods' creation, according to company officials.
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