CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid Corp. and GNC have extended their existing partnership through 2019 and announced plans to add at least 300 more GNC LiveWell store-within-a-store locations inside Rite Aid outlets over the next five years.

Rite Aid Corp. and GNC have extended their existing partnership through 2019 and announced plans to add at least 300 more GNC LiveWell store-within-a-store locations inside Rite Aid outlets over the next five years.

The two companies have had an exclusive partnership in the chain drug channel since December 1998.

"Rite Aid’s strategic partnership with GNC is a point of differentiation, both in the chain drug industry and with our customers," Rite Aid president and chief operating officer Ken Martindale says. "With the extension of our retail agreement with GNC, we will be able to continue bringing our customers the outstanding lineup of highly popular GNC products they trust while delivering on our mission of helping our customers meet their unique health and wellness needs."

At year’s end there were more than 2,200 GNC stores-within-a-store operating in Rite Aids, including a majority of the drug chain’s wellness stores.

"Rite Aid has long been an important part of GNC’s growth strategy, serving as an invaluable partner as we’ve worked to grow our brand," GNC executive vice president, chief merchandising officer and general manager Tom Dowd says. "As a leading global specialty retailer of vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplement products; sports nutrition products; and diet products, GNC shares Rite Aid’s commitment to improving the health and wellness of its customers.

"We look forward to working together to bring our successful store-within-a-store to more Rite Aid pharmacies over the next five years, making it easier than ever for people to live well," he says.