LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets is exiting the convenience care health clinic segment with the closing of 40 Little Clinics in Florida and Georgia, according to the retailer’s website.
Publix said it was ending The Little Clinic leases contracted through Solera Clinics to allow the retailer the opportunity to better focus on its core grocery and pharmacy business.
Publix hosted the clinics for the last five years. Up until last year, Solera Capital, a New York private equity investment firm, was the owner of The Little Clinic, which it sold last year to Kroger Co.
Kroger then decided to revamp the clinic model after closing 20 of its in-store clinics. The retailer named Michael Stoll, who was vice president of corporate benefits, to be the chief executive officer of The Little Clinic.
Kroger operates 78 clinics in select Kroger, Fry’s and King Soopers stores in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arizona and Colorado, according to Kroger’s website.
