Rainy River Drugs under new ownership

By Ken Johnston
Editor

After 10 years at the helm of Rainy River Drugs, Pharmacist Sarah Berg has sold the business.
Sunset Country Medical Pharmacy (SCMP) officially took over Thursday morning. SCMP is a group of three partners, Rick Brown of Aurora, Ont., Vince Gauthier of LaSalle, Ont. and Stan Francic of Belle River, Ont.
All three are pharmacists and have several business interests in Southern Ontario. The purchase of Rainy River Drugs is their first one in Northwestern Ontario. Brown, spokesman for the group, said Wednesday, “This is our first one here and the first one all three of us have worked together on, but we are looking to (as a group) expand in the region.”
All three were in town last week for the take over and plan to be in the community a lot at the beginning and then frequently once things settle into a routine. When here they will work in the Pharmacy. When they are not here, Brown said they have hired a full time Pharmacist to manage the business for them.
Brown said that he and Gauthier are both originally from Winnipeg. “We knew the area. We knew it was a nice area and wanted to buy a pharmacy in a more secluded area away from the G.T.A. (Greater Toronto Area).”
He noted that with changes to the Ontario Government’s Drug Plan in 2010 it has become increasingly harder to make a profit in the larger more populous areas. “The costs, such as rent, and competition make it very difficult. There is no competition here and the costs are lower,” said Brown.
SCMP will retain all the staff at Rainy River Drugs. They will also continue to be an I.D.A. offering Rexall brand products. “We will be promoting more sales of Rexall items. They are a very good product,” said Brown.
Brown said that when they looked at Rainy River Drugs they were impressed. “Sarah has created a good business here. She has done a really good job! We are over the moon to put this project together (as a group)!”
They will also be maintaining the retail side of the business and hope to eventually invest in the business further and perhaps expand.
“With us all being from smaller towns we understand the need for different departments within the store,” said Brown.
Berg plans to return to school and eventually teach. She officially turned the keys to Rainy River Drugs over to SCMP Wednesday afternoon.
Brown concluded by saying, “We hope to get to know the community and hope that people will continue to support the business here.”