KIRKWOOD, Mo. — Shop ‘n Save is expanding its network of pharmacies with the purchase of Rinderer’s Drug Stores Inc., a family-owned drug store operator serving metropolitan St. Louis.

Shop ‘n Save is expanding its network of pharmacies with the purchase of Rinderer’s Drug Stores Inc., a family-owned drug store operator serving metropolitan St. Louis.

The Supervalu Inc. food and drug chain said Monday the acquisition, terms of which weren’t disclosed, involves all six Rinderer’s stores.

Plans call for three Rinderer’s locations — in St. Louis (Natural Bridge Avenue); Union, Mo.; and Bethalto, Ill. — to become Shop ‘n Save pharmacies. The remaining stores, located in St. Louis (Bellefontaine Road) and Ferguson, Mo., are slated to be closed later this month and their prescription files transferred to pharmacies inside Shop ‘n Save supermarkets in Florissant, Moline Acres and Ferguson, Mo.

The purchase of the Rinderer’s stores will increase the number of Shop ‘n Save pharmacies to 34 in metro St. Louis and Springfield, Ill. Overall, the supermarket chain has 41 stores.

Shop ‘n Save said letters will be sent to customers of the Rinderer’s stores being closed to make sure they know where their prescriptions will be transferred and the dates that the changes will take place. The company added that it’s also accepting all prescription insurance plans currently accepted by Rinderer’s and plans to hire as many Rinderer’s employees as possible.

"We are delighted to welcome new customers to our pharmacies, as we work to make this transition as seamless as possible," Shop ‘n Save president Marlene Gebhard said in a statement. "Our new patients can be confident that we will offer excellent service, as well as a number of resources that can help improve their health and well-being."

Based in St. Louis, Rinderer’s has a long history in the area, with the Carlisle family owning the company and operating its stores for almost 50 years, according to Shop ‘n Save.

"We want to thank our customers for giving us the opportunity to serve them for such a long time, and I believe this acquisition puts them in very good hands," stated Matthew Carlisle, president of Rinderer’s. "Shop ‘n Save’s plans for our stores and associates ensure our patients will receive the same standard of care provided by Rinderer’s, with minimal disruption during the transition."