Walgreens has introduced a new Web site for socially-conscious consumers, investors and employees to find information about its commitment to community, diversity, supplier diversity, disability inclusion and the environment. Walgreens.com/responsibility allows users to find new articles, personal stories, videos and interactive features about the company’s benefits to the communities it serves. The new site showcases…

Walgreens is venturing into convenience store territory as it begins to conduct a test of chilled foods at 12 of its stores this fall, feeling out its ability to thrive in the growing fresh foods market, the Wall Street Journal reported. Walgreen spokeswoman Tiffani Washington confirmed the test noting the fresh food initiative could help…

At the NACS Summit in Chicago this week, Matt McCourt, director of Convenience / Spirits for SymphonyIRI Group, gave insight into consumer purchasing patterns across multiple channels and how to reach shoppers in a changing environment. “Consumers are thinking about daily living costs. We’re seeing a new conservative shopper driven by affordable indulgences,” McCourt told…

Walgreen Co. has completed the acquisition of Duane Reade Holdings Inc. The transaction includes all 258 Duane Reade stores in the New York City metropolitan area, as well as Duane Reade’s corporate office and two distribution centers. “Just as Walgreens has been a trusted community pharmacy for more than 100 years, we plan for Duane…

In a vast departure from COLLOQUY’s 2008 report on consumer loyalty to U.S retailers, Walmart dominated the 2010 COLLOQUY Retail Loyalty Index, in results that reflect a reality of the Great Recession – low prices drove consumer loyalty. COLLOQUY, the publishing, education and research division of LoyaltyOne, previously published the COLLOQUY Retail Loyalty Index in…

Walgreen Co. has received the regulatory clearance from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission needed to complete the acquisition of Duane Reade Holdings Inc. “We’re clear to move forward and complete the Duane Reade acquisition, which will immediately give Walgreens a leading position in the nation’s largest drugstore market,” said Walgreens president and CEO Greg Wasson.…

Walgreens is launching a pilot program in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to broaden its workforce and disability inclusion initiatives. The program aims to hire people with disabilities for 10% of service clerk openings at stores in the area. On average, Walgreens hires more than 1,600 service clerks a year in this area alone. “Once this…

  Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain, is introducing a new Community Corner program designed to highlight the successes of minority-owned businesses. This first-of-its-kind supplier diversity initiative is designed to allow consumers to easily identify and purchase products produced by diverse companies. Walgreens will recognize these vendor partners through print advertisements, in-store announcements, coupon booklets,…

Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen Co. is getting into fresh foods and prepared meals to draw “time-starved” customers to its more than 7,000 stores, Business Week reported The drugstore chain has been talking with foodmakers including Unilever NV, Nestle SA and Sara Lee Corp. about creating private-label and branded products, according to Bryan Pugh, vice president of…

Convenience stores across the country are facing burgeoning competition on beer and wine sales from drug store giant Walgreens, which is branching back into the adult beverages category. Walgreens is adding beer sales due to “a direct response to consumer demand,” said Robert Elfinger, spokesperson for the Deerfield, Ill. drug store chain. It plans to…