Walgreens Focuses on "Food Deserts"

The drug-store chain is vying to become a destination for healthy foods and healthy living.

January 14, 2011

CHICAGO - Walgreens announced this week sweeping plans to "reinvent the customer experience" at its more than 7,600 stores across the United States as part of its Customer Centric Retailing initiative.

DrugStoreNews.com reports that Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson told shareholders that the company sees "tremendous opportunity in the front end" of the stores. "We€™re expanding our private-brand offering to meet the needs of the new consumer...We€™re looking to offer a Duane Reade-like beauty department in many stores across our company €" we€™re testing those in several markets €" and we€™re expanding our fresh-food offering."

Last summer Walgreens began introducing larger selections of produce, fresh-prepared foods, dairy and other groceries at several inner-city Chicago "food desert" locations, notes the news source. There are currently 10 Chicago stores that have fresh-food options, "including at least one unit that reportedly has dedicated 40% of its retail area to food."

The news source writes that Walgreens plans to add more fresh food to about 400 stores in areas where access to produce and other goods is scarce, as it tries to position itself as a one-stop shop for health and daily needs.

In addition to more food options, the drug-store chain has already begun adding beer and wine in an attempt to be more convenient to shoppers, and it began selling some of Duane Reade's "delish" line of foods.

In recent months, discount chains Target and Family Dollar have also dedicated more space to food.

Be on the lookout for the February NACS Magazine for a feature on nutrition in convenience stores.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement