Walgreens.com Provides information on health and pharmaceutical products.
Walgreens
Walgreen Co. was incorporated as an Illinois corporation in 1909. The company's primary business is the operation of retail drugstores. Walgreens operates a national chain of drug stores with 5,222 locations in 45 states and Puerto Rico. In addition, the company operates 3 mail service facilities. The company serves ""four million"" customers daily and filled more than 490 million prescriptions in 2005. More than 1,500 Walgreens stores are open 24 hours. A typical Walgreens store is 14,500 square feet with 25,000 items for sale, 25-30 employees and annual sales of ""$7.9 million"".
Company anticipates operating more than 7,000 stores by 2010. To support store expansion, the company opened four distribution centers in the past four years, the most recent in Moreno Valley, California in fiscal 2004. These centers are twenty percent more productive than Company's older distribution centers.
For fiscal 2005, Walgreens reported record revenues of $42.2 billion, a 12.5% increase, and net earnings of $1.55 billion. It is the leading drug store chain based on total sales.
History
This chain started out as a drug store with owner, Charles R. Walgreen, Sr. Charles Walgreen founded the pharmacy in Chicago in 1901. He focused on providing customers great service, a broad selection of merchandise and an easy-to-navigate store layout. He also made sure they paid low prices. By making certain drug items himself, Mr.Walgreen was able to ensure their high quality, yet offer them at lower prices than comparable merchandise. Walgreen invented the milkshake and introduced the soda fountain at stores which drew more customers in the early 1920s. The heart of the store - the primary source of profit - was the prescription department. Walgreen filled the prescriptions and took pride in the work being done.
Example of walgreens' dedication to provide excelent service:
""Whenever a customer in the immediate area telephoned with an order for non-prescription items, Walgreen always repeated - loudly and slowly - the caller's name, address and items ordered. That way, assistant and handyman Caleb Danner could quickly prepare the order. Then Walgreen would prolong the conversation by discussing everything from the weather to current events. Invariably, Caleb would be at the caller's door before she was ready to hang up. She would then excuse herself and return to the phone amazed at the incredible speed with which her order had been delivered. ""
Walgreens claims responsiblity for the popularization of the malted milkshake, by Ivar "Pop" Coulson in 1922, although milkshakes and malted milk had been around for some time before. This development coincided with the invention of the electric blender in the same year.
Walgreen pioneered computers in pharmacies that could be connected nationwide via satellite with the introduction of its Intercom computer system in 1981. It also pioneered drive-thru pharmacies in 1992 in Indianapolis. Now more than 80% of Walgreen stores have drive-thrus. Walgreens new computer system for filling prescriptions, Intercom Plus, links all stores into a single network and represents how advanced technology serves customers' needs better than any other pharmacy resource.
In fact, Walgreens is the largest private user of satellite technology (second only to the United States government). Billing, labeling and prescription histories (for tax planning and reimbursement) are available more quickly and easily than ever before.
Services
The drugstores are engaged in the retail sale of prescription and nonprescription drugs and general merchandise. General merchandise includes, among other things, cosmetics, toiletries, household items, food, beverages and photofinishing. Customers can have prescriptions filled at the drugstore counter as well as through the mail, by telephone, and on the Internet.
The drugstores are engaged in the retail sale of prescription and nonprescription drugs and general merchandise. General merchandise includes, among other things, cosmetics, toiletries, household items, food, beverages and photofinishing. Customers can have prescriptions filled at the drugstore counter as well as through the mail, by telephone, and on the Internet.
Press information
- ""May 16, 2007"" - Walgreen Co. To Acquire Convenient Care Clinic Operator Take Care Health Systems
- ""April 12, 2007"" - Walgreen Co. Names CEO Jeffrey A. Rein Chairman and Gregory D. Wasson President; Announces Retirement of Chairman David W. Bernauer and Other Executive Promotions
- ""April 06, 2007"" - Walgreen Co. Names David A. Van Howe Vice President Of Purchasing
- ""March 16, 2007"" - Walgreens Announces Executive Promotions
- ""February 27, 2007"" - Salix Pharmaceuticals Launches National Colorectal Screening Education Campaign with Walgreens Pharmacies and the Colon Cancer Alliance
- ""February 19, 2007"" - Walgreen Co. Announces Store Operations Promotions
- ""February 15, 2007"" - Walgreen Co. To Acquire Select Assets Of Pharmacy And Medical Specialty Product Provider Familymeds Group Inc.
- ""February 11, 2007"" - Former Walgreen Co. Chairman Charles R. Walgreen Jr. Dies At 100
- ""January 11, 2007"" - Walgreen Co. Announces Executive Promotions
- ""January 10, 2007"" - Walgreen Co. Authorizes $1 Billion Stock Repurchase Program
Languages
English
Address
- 200 Wilmot Rd
- Deerfield IL 60015 US
Contact
- Walgreens, Julie Shelton
-
- +1 847 914 5690, Fax: +1 847 948 6573
Additional Information
Related Domains
External Links
- Stock: WAG
- Alexa: Walgreens.com
