BUFFALO, N.Y. – Rite Aid announced yesterday that it has converted the majority of its Buffalo-area stores to the Wellness format, Drugstore News reports.

The change affects nearly 100 stores. Rite Aid chairman, president and CEO John Standley made the announcement at one of the stores, along with celebrity fitness expert Denise Austin.

"Our Buffalo 'Road to Wellness' began in 2009, when we selected it as one of four markets to pilot our Wellness+ customer loyalty program," Martindale said. "As the leading drug store chain in the greater Buffalo area, it's only fitting that we're here today celebrating another milestone in our company's history. Over the past two years, we've invested millions of dollars as we've remodeled our Rite Aid pharmacies across the region to help Buffalonians as well."

Since 2011 when Rite first introduced its Wellnest format, it has converted more than 800 stores.

Later this month, Wellness stores in Buffalo will sponsor free diabetes screenings, followed by skin cancer screenings next month and events focused on seniors' wellness and heart health in July and August.