In episode 323 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Andre Persaud, chief retail officer of Rite Aid, the trusted, everyday care connector operating over 2,500 retail pharmacy locations across 17 U.S. states. Persaud discusses Rite Aid's RxEvolution strategy, how the business is redesigning the in-store experience for its customers, and the internal cross-functional approach going into the retailer's relaunch.

In addition, Persaud shares how the retailer is providing a holistic experience for customers across physical and digital channels, and the new customer Rite Aid is seeing shopping at its stores. Persaud discusses the organization's new purpose, core values and mission statement; how Rite Aid store associates are engaged with the new brand mission; and some of the solutions the business is putting into place to navigate supply chain headwinds and inventory management.

This episode was recorded at CRMC 2021 in Chicago.

Andre Persaud is an accomplished senior executive with broad and diverse experience with P/L responsibility in multiple retail channels and formats, ranging from $3 billion to $32 billion in both public and private equity-owned companies. He has a demonstrated track record of transformation and innovation to improve revenue, EBITDA, customer experience, and associate engagement. Andre has deep and broad expertise in strategy, operations, merchandising, digital, supply chain, marketing, real estate, pharmacy, and optical within mass, grocery, chain drug store, and off-price apparel. He has experience in luxury, premium and discount formats in both corporate and franchise organizations across urban and rural markets. Andre graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a MBA and a Bachelors of Pharmacy. He has served as a board member for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the Shopko Foundation.