GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer Inc. has entered an agreement to buy Aureus Health Services, a national specialty pharmacy and health management service provider.

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. The supercenter retailer said late Wednesday that the addition of Aureus’ high-touch, patient-centered services will enable the chain’s pharmacy operation to enhance its customer offerings, namely to patients with complex chronic conditions.

“The ability to provide specialty pharmacy services to our customers supports our objective to provide total patient care,” Meijer President J.K. Symancyk said in a statement. “Between Aureus Health Services’ national strength and the strong Midwest footprint of Meijer, this purchase combines two reputable industry leaders and creates an opportunity for national growth by providing better service to customers.”

Based in Pittsburgh, Aureus operates facilities in New York, New Jersey, Missouri and Pennsylvania. Meijer has 217 supercenters and grocery stores, with pharmacies, in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

“We are very pleased to join the Meijer organization,” stated Aureus chief executive officer Michael Nameth. “This acquisition will not only benefit customers and patients through a stronger organization, but it will also provide growth opportunities for our team.” 

Plans call for Nameth will remain as CEO of Aureus, which will become a new Meijer business unit. The acquisition is expected to be completed within the next few months, according to Meijer.

With the surging demand for specialty drugs, food and drug retailers and independent pharmacies have allied with — or acquired — specialty pharmacy operators to be able to provide the medication management services and higher level of care that these patients require.

For example, earlier this year, Aureus entered specialty pharmacy partnerships with Care Pharmacies Cooperative, the Academy of Independent Pharmacy, Rochester Drug Cooperative and Price Chopper Supermarkets.

Last year, Hy-Vee acquired Amber Pharmacy, an Omaha, Neb.-based specialty pharmacy company, and in 2013 Giant Eagle purchased of Cleveland-based Rx21 Specialty Pharmacy. The nation’s largest supermarket operator, Kroger Co., in late 2012 unveiled a deal to acquire specialty pharmacy Axium Pharmacy Holdings. At the time, Kroger said the addition of Axium boosts its ability to serve customers who need complex drug therapies and to deliver those medication regimens at greater value to customers and insurance payers.