Bergen Brunswig Signs With Safeway

Bergen Brunswig Corp. said it has signed a two-year agreement to supply drugs and related products to the 585 pharmacies in Safeway Inc.’s supermarkets. Orange-based Bergen, one of the largest U.S. drug wholesalers, said it expects to receive more than $1 billion in revenue from the contract.

Under the agreement, Bergen will be the primary supplier for pharmacies operated under the Safeway and Vons store names. Pleasanton-based Safeway also will be the first retail chain to test Bergen’s PatientPlus program, which trains pharmacists to work more with patients about their medication, Bergen said.

“Educating patients on their medical conditions can significantly reduce a payer’s costs,” said David Neu, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Bergen’s Bergen Brunswig Drug Co. unit. “We know retail pharmacy can play a huge role in this education effort.”