hopple

"There are certain markets that affect the company big-time, and Baltimore is one of them," notes John Hopple, Rite Aid's market manager, who oversees the company's 190 stores in Maryland and Delaware.

And, Hopple says, the company is targeting the region for more expansion.

"I think you have to understand the city before you go in there," notes Hopple. "The independents knew a lot about the inner city and we have learned a lot about it from them.

"It can be a little more competitive on the health and beauty aids and make it up on food," Rite Aid's Hopple says about Giant, noting that since British supermarket operator J.