It’s 8:00 a.m. on a cold, sunny morning in Cranston, Rhode Island, and Phred’s Drug is already buzzing with activity as phones start ringing and pharmacists are busy filling scripts. The Rossi family that owns Phred’s is no stranger to pharmacy. A family-owned operation heading into its 58^th year of business, Phred’s has seen tremendous growth over the last several years. One would think that with large-chain pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens opening shop just down the road, business at Phred’s would be adversely impacted. But the fierce competition has had quite the opposite effect, and Phred’s has emerged as a pharmacy leader in the area. 

Taking great pride in providing their customers with the level care and service that only a local, family-run, community pharmacy can provide, Phred’s Drug has cultivated an incredibly loyal customer base. In fact, many customers travel from miles away to fill their prescriptions at Phred’s because it is one of the few remaining independent pharmacies in the state.

James and Mike Rossi – brothers and third-generation pharmacists – co-manage Phred’s Drug. James focuses on the retail end of the business while Mike runs the long term care side of the operation. Together, the Rossi brothers have managed to take “pharmacy” to the next level.  In 2010, seeing the growth potential in the long term care market, Mike set forth on a major 3,000 sq. ft. expansion of the store to help increase the pharmacy’s focus on assisted living facilities. Today, the operation boasts 18,500 sq. ft. – including 4,500 sq. ft. of working space for the pharmacy alone! – dedicated to servicing both retail and long term care patients.

Mike, Chuck, and James Rossi

One of MPS&A’s longest running users of the PharmacyRx system, Phred’s Drug is a truly unique pharmacy that has succeeded in differentiating itself from the competition.  Averaging 5,000 prescriptions per week (and growing), there’s no end to the potential growth opportunities for this amazing operation.  And PharmacyRx is an integral part of Phred’s business operation.

“It’s a great system,” says Mike. “PharmacyRx is a good solid foundation to build off of.”

Mike and James’s father Chuck is the second-generation pharmacist in the family. While he has taken more of a backseat to the day-to-day operations at the pharmacy in recent years, Chuck is pleased with where Phred’s sits today.  “You (MPS&A) have one of the best systems out there. It’s very versatile and there’s a lot you can do,” he says.

The team at Phred’s has the opportunity to see tremendous growth in the years to come on both the retail side and long term care side of their operation. And MPS&A will be there every step of the way to help Phred’s reach its goals.

For more information on Phred’s Drug, visit www.phredsdrug.com.

Customer spotlight - Phred's Drug