Albertsons Launches Health App as Consumers Seek Wellness and Convenience

Grocery giant Albertsons is the latest retailer expanding into the world of healthcare.

The company announced Monday (Feb. 6) the debut of Sincerely Health, a digital health and wellness platform accessible on 16 of its grocers’ apps and websites, including Safeway, Vons, Acme and Albertsons itself.

“Backed by science, Sincerely Health is designed to help improve lives by connecting, educating, encouraging and rewarding customers on their health and wellness journey so they can make informed choices regarding food, physical activity, sleep and mindfulness,” the retailer said in a news release.

The company says its platform lets users link to activity trackers like Fitbit or Apple Health and log their vital signs and medication schedules. It also offers online pharmacy services, such as prescription management tools and a telehealth portal to connect with general practitioners.

As PYMNTS wrote last month, the retail sector is in the midst of a major push into the health field, with companies such as CVS, Amazon and Walmart branching out to offer health services.

Amazon last month announced the debut of RxPass, a program that offers discounted prescription drugs to Prime members.

“Navigating insurance can be a maze and getting to the pharmacy a burden,” Dr. Vin Gupta, Amazon Pharmacy’s chief medical officer, said in a news release. “Sometimes that has led to poor outcomes. New medications don’t get filled, refills don’t get picked up, and patients suffer. Aspects of our healthcare system make what should be easy, difficult.”

Also in January, PYMNTS noted that CVS was considering the acquisition of Oak Street Health, a $10 billion deal that “would broaden the retail pharmacy’s healthcare offerings beyond its own aisles and bring primary care more firmly into the mix in a continuum of services.”

And Walmart spent part of last year setting the stage for the launch of Walmart Health locations adjacent to its Walmart Supercenters, due to open this year.

Albertsons’ healthcare efforts are happening as the company is seeing the benefits of its investments in digital services.

The retailer’s quarterly earnings report last month showed that digital sales increased 33% year over year in the period and loyalty membership rose 16% to 33 million.

“Our team continues to deliver strong performance,” CEO Vivek Sankaran said in a statement. “Our investments in digital transformation, differentiation in own brands and Fresh offerings, and the modernization of our operational capabilities contributed to these results.”