Eckerd Corporation was an American pharmacy retail chain that was headquartered in Largo, Florida,[1] and toward the end of its life, in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Following years of losses and failed attempts to turn around the company, the chain was divided in 2004, with 1,271 of its stores, and its mail-order business, sold to competitor CVS, and the remainder acquired by Jean Coutu Group through its U.S.

[6] Penney paid $3.3-billion and assumed $760 million in debt to acquire Eckerd, and combined it with its 800-store Thrift Drug chain.

As technology, such as ordering over the Internet, began to gain traction, Eckerd fell behind by failing to update its IT networks.

JCPenney took a $1.3-billion charge against earnings in connection with selling the drugstore chain, which had accounted for 45 percent of its annual revenues.

[10] Jean Coutu Group acquired the remaining 1,540 stores, and support facilities, in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic (essentially everything from Georgia northward) for $2.375 billion.

[citation needed] Jean Coutu merged the Eckerd stores it acquired with its existing American pharmacy, Brooks.

The merger was signed and completed as of June 4, 2007; all remaining Eckerd stores converted to Rite Aid by the end of September 2007.

Many of the stores received new paint on their exteriors, making them look more like brick than the white stucco design of most Eckerd locations.