SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, DC 20549

                                   FORM 11-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
    1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

                                      OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
    ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to _____

                         Commission file number 1-5742

         A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different
from that of the issuer named below:

                     Perry Distributors, Inc. 401(k) Plan

         B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the
address of its principal executive office:

                             Rite Aid Corporation
                                30 Hunter Lane
                         Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011




PERRY DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 401(k) PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                        Page

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT                                              1

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2002 and 2001
   AND FOR EACH OF THE THREE YEARS IN THE PERIOD ENDED
   DECEMBER 31, 2002:

   Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits                        2

   Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits             3

   Notes to Financial Statements                                        4-8

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2002:

   Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets
   (Held at End of Year)                                                  9

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001:

   Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets
   (Held at End of Year)                                                 10



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


To the Plan Administrator and Participants of
   Perry Distributors, Inc. 401(k) Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for
benefits of the Perry Distributors, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the "Plan") as of
December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statement of changes in net assets
available for benefits for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Plan Administrator. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by the Plan Administrator, as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31,
2002 and 2001, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002 in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules listed in
the table of contents are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and
are not a required part of the basic financial statements, but are
supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and
Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974. These schedules are the responsibility of the Plan
Administrator. Such supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing
procedures applied in our audits of the basic financial statements and, in our
opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.



/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP


Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 12, 2003



PERRY DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 401(k) PLAN

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
DECEMBER 31, 2002 AND 2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                    2002              2001

ASSETS:
  Investments                                    $ 1,800,893       $ 1,786,412

  Contributions receivable:
    Employer                                             481               481
    Employee                                           2,796             7,215
                                                ------------       -----------

        Total contributions receivable                 3,277             7,696
                                                ------------       -----------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS               $  1,804,170       $ 1,794,108
                                                ============       ===========

See notes to financial statements.

                                     -2-


PERRY DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 401(k) PLAN

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002, 2001 AND 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                                                 Year ended December 31,
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     2002                2001                2000
ADDITIONS:
                                                                                                  
  Employee contributions                                          $ 162,786           $ 201,057            $ 200,022
  Employer contributions                                                  -              32,651               64,652
  Rollover contributions                                                  -                   -                2,001
  Investment income                                                  66,066              68,667               63,411
                                                                  ---------           ---------            ---------
           Total additions                                          228,852             302,375              330,086

DEDUCTIONS:
  Net depreciation in fair value of investments                     192,701             112,387               90,903
  Benefit payments                                                   25,765              51,282               47,278
  Loan defaults                                                         324               5,637                4,249
                                                                  ---------           ---------            ---------

           Total deductions                                         218,790             169,306              142,430

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
  BENEFITS                                                           10,062             133,069              187,656

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,
  BEGINNING OF YEAR                                               1,794,108           1,661,039            1,473,383
                                                                  ---------           ---------            ---------
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,
  END OF YEAR                                                    $1,804,170          $1,794,108           $1,661,039
                                                                 ==========          ==========           ==========


See notes to financial statements.


                                     -3-




PERRY DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 401(k) PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2002, 2001 AND 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1.    PLAN DESCRIPTION

      The following brief description of the Perry Distributors, Inc. 401(k)
      Plan (the "Plan") is provided for general informational purposes only.
      Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete
      description of the Plan's provisions.

      General--The Plan is a defined contribution plan. An individual account
      is established for each participant and provides benefits that are based
      on (a) amounts the participant and Rite Aid Corporation (the "Company"
      or "Plan Sponsor") contributed to a participant's account, (b)
      investment earnings (losses), and (c) any forfeitures allocated to the
      account, less any administrative expenses charged to the Plan.

      Effective January 2, 2003, employees of Perry Distributors, Inc. have
      become employees of Rite Aid Services, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary
      of the Plan Sponsor. The Plan has continued to be recognized by the Plan
      Sponsor. Accordingly, all participants are provided the same benefits
      that were previously provided by the Plan before the creation of Rite
      Aid Services, L.L.C.

      On December 11, 2002, the Plan Sponsor created the Trustee Search
      Committee ("TSC"), charged with engaging an institutional trustee for
      the Plan. Effective April 1, 2003, The Northern Trust Company was
      engaged to serve as Plan trustee with respect to all assets other than
      the Rite Aid Corporation Company Stock Fund. LaSalle Bank National
      Association was engaged to serve as the Plan trustee with respect to the
      Rite Aid Corporation Company Stock Fund. On that date, the TSC was
      renamed the Employee Benefits Administration Committee and named plan
      administrator ("Plan Administrator"). The Plan Administrator is
      responsible for the preparation of the Plan's financial statements.

      In March 1995, Perry Drug Stores, Inc. was acquired by the Plan Sponsor,
      who elected to continue this Plan.

      Effective June 16, 2001, the Plan Sponsor ceased making contributions to
      the Plan pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement dated May 27,
      2001. Employees continue to contribute as described below, however,
      there is no Plan Sponsor match.

      Participation--Each employee who is a member of the International
      Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and Helpers of
      America, Local 614 becomes eligible to participate in the Plan after
      attaining age 21 and completing one year of service (at least 1,000
      hours).

      Contributions--Each year, a participant may elect to contribute up to
      12% of the participant's pretax annual compensation, as defined in the
      Plan. A participant may also contribute, or rollover, amounts
      representing distributions from another qualified defined benefit or
      defined contribution plan. With respect to elective contributions paid
      or accrued prior to June 15, 2001, the Plan Sponsor matches 100% of each
      participant's pretax annual contribution, not to exceed the lesser of
      $700 or 2% of the participant's pretax annual compensation. The Plan
      Sponsor match is contributed per pay period throughout the Plan year. No
      matching contribution will be made with respect to elective deferrals
      paid or accrued after June 15, 2001, except as described in the next
      paragraph.

                                     -4-


      Various settlement agreements have been entered into with respect to
      litigation involving the Company common stock held by the Plan. Under
      these settlement agreements, certain additional contributions will be
      made to the Plan as restorative payments. These restorative payments are
      in addition to the contributions otherwise made to the Plan. The
      restorative payments will be allocated to the accounts of certain
      participants (as described in the settlement agreement) whose accounts
      under the Plan included investments in the Company common stock. The
      restorative payments will be fully vested when made, and will be
      commingled with the eligible individuals' before-tax contributions. Once
      the full amount of the restorative payments is received by the Plan,
      there will be no further contributions stemming from these settlement
      agreements. Participants have been or will be advised if they are
      entitled to share in any of the restorative payments. No restorative
      payment amounts have been recorded in the Statement of Net Assets
      Available for Benefits.

      Investment Options--The Plan provides participants with the option of
      investing in ten funds. The funds vary in degree of risk and investment
      objective.

      Payment of Benefits--Upon termination of service due to death,
      disability, or retirement, a participant may elect to receive a lump sum
      amount equal to the value of the participant's vested interest in the
      participant's account, or installment payments as determined by the Plan
      Administrator.

      Loans--Loans under the Plan are not permitted. However, the Plan
      Administrator has identified loans made under the Plan resulting in an
      operational failure. To correct this operational failure, the Plan
      Sponsor has proposed to retroactively amend the Plan to permit up to
      three loans be outstanding at one time. This operational failure and the
      proposed correction method have been identified in the Voluntary
      Correction Program ("VCP") described in Note 7.

      Vesting--A participant is vested immediately in the participant's
      voluntary contributions, plus actual earnings (losses) thereon. Vesting
      in the Plan Sponsor's contributions is based on years of service, as
      defined in the Plan document. A participant becomes fully vested in the
      Plan Sponsor contributions upon the participant's death, disability or
      attainment of normal retirement age while employed, or the occurrence of
      a plan termination. If not vested earlier for one of the foregoing
      reasons, and not subject to other exceptions described in the Plan
      document, a participant's account becomes fully vested upon the
      participant's attainment of five years of service.

      Forfeitures--When a participant withdraws from the Plan prior to
      becoming fully vested, the non-vested portion of the participant's
      account is forfeited and credited to a suspense account. The suspense
      account will be reallocated to participants in the same manner as
      matching contributions.

2.    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      Basis of Accounting--The accompanying financial statements are prepared
      on the accrual basis of accounting.

      Investments--The Plan's investments are stated at fair value, except the
      Guaranteed Interest Account, as measured by quoted prices in an active
      market. Realized gain or loss on investment transactions is determined
      using the first-in, first-out method; investment transactions are
      recorded at the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual
      basis. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

      The Plan had 347 and 363 shares of Company common stock at December 31,
      2002 and 2001, respectively.

                                     -5-


      The Guaranteed Interest Account ("GIA") is a group annuity insurance
      product issued by Prudential. Interest on the GIA is credited daily.
      Prudential declares the current interest rate on each successive
      calendar quarter which remains in effect until the end of the following
      four quarters for contributions received during that calendar quarter.
      The GIA is deemed to be fully benefit responsive; therefore, it is
      presented at contract value which approximates fair value. The average
      yields were 4.49%, 5.06% and 5.31% for 2002, 2001 and 2000,
      respectively. As of December 31, 2002 and 2001, the crediting interest
      rates were 3.75% and 4.50%, respectively.

      Administrative Expenses--Under the terms of the Plan agreement, costs
      relating to Plan administration may be paid by the Plan Sponsor. For the
      years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, the Plan Sponsor has paid
      substantially all administrative expenses.

      Use of Estimates--The preparation of financial statements in conformity
      with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
      America requires the Plan Administrator to make estimates and
      assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities
      at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
      revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may
      differ from those estimates and assumptions.

      The Plan invests in mutual funds, corporate stocks and the GIA.
      Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as
      interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level
      of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably
      possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur
      in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the
      amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

3.    INVESTMENTS

      The following presents investments that represent 5% or more of the
      Plan's assets:

                                                        December 31,
                                              ----------------------------
                                                   2002             2001

Prudential Guaranteed Interest Account        $ 1,008,531       $ 849,638
Prudential Jennison Growth Fund                   181,419         272,387
Prudential Active Balanced Fund                   160,619         166,494
Prudential Stock Index Fund                       160,010         195,501

      The Plan's investments (including gains and losses on investments bought
      and sold, as well as held during the year) (depreciated) appreciated in
      value as follows:


                                               Year ended December 31,
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                     2002              2001               2000

Investments, at fair value:
  Mutual Funds                   $(191,751)         $(113,371)        $ (87,000)
  Common Stock                        (950)               984            (3,903)
                                 ----------         ----------        ----------
  Total depreciation             $(192,701)         $(112,387)        $ (90,903)
                                 ==========         ==========        ==========

                                     -6-


4.    TAX STATUS

      The Plan obtained its latest determination letter dated November 20,
      1995, in which the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") stated that the Plan,
      as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of
      the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC"). The Plan has been amended since
      receiving the determination letter. On February 28, 2002, the Plan
      Sponsor submitted the Plan for a new determination letter from the IRS.
      The Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and
      being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC,
      including the processes identified for remediation. Therefore, no
      provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan's financial
      statements.

5.    PLAN TERMINATION

      Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Plan Sponsor has
      the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time
      and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the
      event the Plan terminates, participants would become fully vested in
      their Plan Sponsor contributions.

6.    PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS

      Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by
      Prudential, the custodian of the Plan. The transactions related to such
      investments qualify as party-in-interest transactions. The Plan has also
      permitted investment in the common stock of the Plan Sponsor and
      therefore these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.
      The Plan does not consider Plan Sponsor contributions or benefits paid
      by the Plan to be party-in-interest transactions.

7.    CONTINGENCIES

      In late 1999, the Plan Sponsor's Board of Directors hired a new
      executive management team to address and resolve various business,
      operational and financial challenges confronting the Plan Sponsor. New
      management began the process of reviewing the administration of the Plan
      for purposes of determining compliance with provisions of the Plan and
      regulatory requirements. The Plan Administrator has identified certain
      processes not in compliance with the provisions of the Plan or
      regulatory requirements, the more significant of which are as follows:

         a)    During 2000, the Plan Sponsor failed to withhold and contribute
               participants' salary deferral contributions associated with
               supplemental salary payments in the amount of $24. In addition,
               the Plan Sponsor match contributions of $13 associated with
               such participant salary deferrals were also not contributed to
               participant accounts. The Plan Sponsor has compiled an
               evaluation of the amount of investment income that would have
               been earned by the participants on such matching and salary
               deferral contributions during 2000 and the prior periods in
               question. The Plan Sponsor estimates the maximum foregone
               investment income on such contributions to be $0, $2 and $26
               for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The Plan Sponsor expects
               to make a contribution to the respective participant accounts
               following receipt of a compliance statement related to the
               Voluntary Correction Program ("VCP") filing with the IRS, as
               described below.

         b)    The Plan was not being operated in accordance with the Plan
               document relating to the disbursement of minimum account
               balances. The Plan calls for lump-sum disbursements of a
               participant's account following a termination or retirement if
               that participant's account is

                                     -7-



               not more than $5,000. The estimate of the minimum account
               balances subject to disbursement in accordance with the Plan
               document for Plan years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
               is $13,071, $11,635 and $10,220, respectively. This defect was
               included within the VCP filing with the IRS and its correction
               is subject to the receipt of a compliance statement from the
               IRS for the VCP filing as described below.

      In July 2001, the Plan Administrator filed a VCP with the IRS,
      requesting a compliance statement and approval of the correction method
      for operational failures identified in the Plan. The Plan Administrator
      is in discussions with the IRS regarding the issues identified in the
      VCP; however, the Plan Administrator believes that the proposed
      correction methods are acceptable under current IRS guidelines.

      The Plan Administrator believes that the processes identified for
      remediation would not cause the Plan to be disqualified by the IRS.
      Penalties, taxes and remedial payments, if any, due to non-compliance
      will be paid by the Plan Sponsor.

                                    ******

                                     -8-


PERRY DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 401(k) PLAN

FORM 5500, SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
DECEMBER 31, 2002
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      Current
Identity of Issue                 Description of Investment            Value

*Rite Aid Corporation             Company Stock Fund                      $ 851
*Prudential                       Guaranteed Interest Account         1,008,531
*Prudential                       Jennison Growth Fund                  181,419
*Prudential                       Stock Index Fund                      160,010
*Prudential                       Active Balanced Fund                  160,619
*Prudential                       International Stock Fund               53,617
*Prudential                       MoneyMart Assets Fund                  44,128
*Prudential                       Government Income Fund                 45,842
 Fidelity                         Magellan Fund                          28,330
 Putnam                           Growth and Income Fund                 11,707
**Participant Notes               Loan Fund                             105,839
                                                                    -----------
                                  TOTAL                             $ 1,800,893
                                                                    ===========

*Party-in-interest

**The loans range in interest rates from 5.75% to 10.50% and expire through
  2021.



                                     -9-




PERRY DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 401(k) PLAN

FORM 5500, SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
DECEMBER 31, 2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                       Current
Identity of Issue                 Description of Investment             Value

*Rite Aid Corporation           Company Stock Fund               $     1,835
*Prudential                     Guaranteed Interest Account          849,638
*Prudential                     Jennison Growth Fund                 272,387
*Prudential                     Stock Index Fund                     195,501
*Prudential                     Active Balanced Fund                 166,494
*Prudential                     International Stock Fund              65,438
*Prudential                     MoneyMart Assets Fund                 42,363
*Prudential                     Government Income Fund                20,236
 Fidelity                       Magellan Fund                         42,091
 Putnam                         Growth and Income Fund                12,439
**Participant Notes             Loan Fund                            117,990
                                                                 -----------
                                TOTAL                            $ 1,786,412
                                                                 ===========

*Party-in-interest.

**The loans range in interest rates from 5.75% to 10.50% and expire through
2021.



                                     -10-




                                  SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have
duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

                                     PERRY DISTRIBUTORS, INC. 401(k) PLAN


                                     By: /s/ Theresa G. Nichols
                                         -------------------------------------
                                          Theresa G. Nichols,
                                          not in her individual capacity,
                                          but solely as an authorized signatory
                                          for the Employee Benefits
                                          Administration Committee

Date:  June 27, 2003




                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number             Description
23                 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP