Editing Walgreens

{{Short description|American pharmacy and convenience store chain}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Walgreens
| logo = Walgreens 2020 primary logo.svg
| image = 
| image_size = 
| image_caption = 
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| trade_name = Walgreens
| traded_as = {{NYSE was|WAG}}
| founded = {{start date and age|1901}}, in [[Chicago, Illinois]], [[U.S.]]
| founder = [[Charles Rudolph Walgreen]]
| hq_location = 200 Wilmot Road
| hq_location_city = [[Deerfield, Illinois]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| former_names = Walgreen Drug Co. (1901–1931)<br>Walgreen Drug Stores (1931–1948)<br>Walgreen's (1948–1955)
| area_served = United States
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|[[Stefano Pessina]] ([[executive chairman]])|[[Tim Wentworth]] ([[CEO]])<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.walgreens.com/press-center/walgreens-boots-alliance-announces-leadership-transition.htm | title=Walgreens Boots Alliance Announces Leadership Transition | date=30 November 2023 }}</ref>|[[Tracey D. Brown|Tracey Brown]] ([[President (corporate title)|president]])}}
| industry = [[Retail]]
| products = {{hlist|Drugs*|pharmacy|photo center|beauty products|groceries|food|drinks|liquor*|electronics|toys|pet supplies|baby products|hygiene products|health products|school and office supplies|tobacco*}}{{small|*where permitted by law}}
| parent = [[Walgreens Boots Alliance]]
| homepage = {{URL|walgreens.com}}
| footnotes = <ref>{{cite news |last=Pasquarelli |first=Adrianne |url=http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/walgreens-rebrands-rival-cvs-scoops-aetna/311514/ |title=Goodbye 'Corner of Happy & Healthy.' Walgreens Rebrands as Rival CVS Scoops Up Aetna |work=[[AdAge]] |date=December 4, 2017 |access-date=December 5, 2017 }}</ref>
}}
'''Walgreens''' is an American [[Pharmacy (shop)|pharmacy store]] chain. It is the second largest in the United States, behind [[CVS Pharmacy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2015/06/30/cvs-to-buy-all-of-targets-pharmacy-stores-a-win-win-for-both/#1b65050769d1|title=CVS to Buy All of Target's Pharmacy Stores -- A Win-Win For Both|first=Trefis|last=Team|website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> As of March 2025, the company operated more than 8,700 stores in the U.S.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Clarence-Smith |first=Louisa |date=2025-03-04 |title=Boots owner Walgreens nears $10bn private equity takeover |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/boots-owner-walgreens-nears-10bn-private-equity-takeover-zz6zkdqdj |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>  

Walgreens has been the subject of a number of lawsuits over discrimination, drug fraud, federal billing fraud, distribution of opioids, discrepancies between shelf price and scanned price, overcharging, illegal disposal of hazardous waste, selling expired items, misleading investors, unlicensed pharmacists, and wage theft. 

Founded in [[Chicago]] in 1901, Walgreens is headquartered in the [[Chicago metropolitan area|Chicago suburb]] of [[Deerfield, Illinois|Deerfield]], Illinois.<ref>"[http://www.walgreens.com/topic/marketing/contactus/default1.jsp Contact Us]." Walgreens. Retrieved on January 30, 2011. "Write Walgreen Co. 200 Wilmot Road Deerfield, IL 60015."</ref><ref>"[http://www.deerfield.il.us/departments/publicworks/maps_and_info/gis.aspx GIS Maps] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906043615/http://www.deerfield.il.us/departments/publicworks/maps_and_info/gis.aspx|date=2010-09-06}}." City of Deerfield. Retrieved on February 5, 2011.</ref> <!--Specify state because some Chicago suburbs are in Indiana and Wisconsin--><!--Cited in headquarters section--> On December 31, 2014, Walgreens acquired Switzerland and UK-based [[Alliance Boots]], and formed a new [[holding company]], [[Walgreens Boots Alliance]]. Walgreens became a subsidiary of the new company, which retained its Deerfield headquarters and trades on the [[Nasdaq]] under the symbol WBA.<ref>{{cite web|last=Linnane|first=Ciara|title=Walgreen ticker changes to WBA after merger with Boots Alliance|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/walgreen-ticker-changes-to-wba-after-merger-with-boots-alliance-2014-12-31 |publisher=Market Watch|access-date=December 31, 2014|date=December 31, 2014}}</ref> In 2021 the company was one of several pharmacy chains found by a federal jury to have substantially contributed to the [[Opioid epidemic|opioid crisis]].

In addition to pharmacy services, Walgreens also offers photo services.<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Walgreens - Your Home for Prescriptions, Photos and Health Information |url=http://www.walgreens.com |publisher=walgreens.com}}</ref>

== History ==

[[File:Old "Walgreen" sign, San Antonio.JPG|thumb|Early "Walgreen Drugs" sign still in use in [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]]|alt=Early "Walgreen Drugs" sign still in use in San Antonio, Texas]]

=== 20th century ===
Walgreens began in 1901, when [[Charles Rudolph Walgreen]] purchased a small food front store on the corner of Bowen and Cottage Grove Avenues in Chicago, where he had worked as a pharmacist.<ref>{{cite web
|url=
https://www.walgreens.com/topic/about/press/facts.jsp|title= Our History|publisher= Walgreens
|access-date= March 6, 2008}}</ref> Walgreen manufactured his own line of drug products. By 1913, Walgreens had grown to four stores on [[Chicago's South Side]]. It opened its fifth in 1915 and four more in 1916. By 1919, there were 20 stores in the chain.
[[File:Walgreens 2005 primary logo.svg|thumb|Logo used from 2005 to 2020]]
As a result of [[Prohibition in the United States|alcohol prohibition]], the 1920s were a successful time for Walgreens: although alcohol was illegal, Walgreens sold prescription whiskey.<ref>{{cite news |last=Segal |first=David |date=26 June 2010 |title=When Capitalism Meets Cannabis |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/business/27pot.html}}</ref> This prescribed alcohol was sold at inflated price, compared to a [[speakeasy]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Goldstein |first1=Robin |title=Can Legal Weed Win?: The Blunt Realities of Cannabis Economics |last2=Sumner |first2=Daniel |publisher=University of California Press |year=2023 |isbn=978-0-520-39737-8 |location=Berkeley, CA |pages=11 |language=en}}</ref> In 1922, the company introduced a [[malt]]ed [[milkshake]], which led to its establishing ice cream manufacturing plants.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Ang |first1=Simon |title=Superior Customer Value in the New Economy: Concepts and Cases, Second Edition |last2=Oliva |first2=Alejandro |publisher=CRC Press |year=2004 |isbn=0-203-50149-7 |location=Boca Raton, FL |pages=348 |language=en}}</ref> A Walgreens employee named Ivar Coulson modified the basic malted milk recipe by adding scoops of vanilla ice cream.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ried |first=Adam |title=Thoroughly Modern Milkshakes: 100 Thick and Creamy Shakes You Can Make At Home |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-393-07890-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sawyers |first=June Skinner |title=Chicago Portraits: New Edition |publisher=Northwestern University Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-8101-2649-7 |location=Evanston, Illinois |pages=316 |language=en}}</ref> The milkshake was sold at $0.20 and Walgreens became the place to "hang out".<ref name=":2"/> The next year, Walgreens began opening stores away from residential areas. In the mid-1920s, there were 44 stores with annual sales of $1.2 million combined. Walgreens had also expanded by then into [[Minnesota]], [[Missouri]], and [[Wisconsin]]. By 1930, it had 397 stores with annual sales of $4 million. This expansion partly was attributed to selling the prescribed alcohol that Walgreen often stocked under the counter, as accounted in Daniel Okrent's ''Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition''.<ref>Daniel Okrent, Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition (197)</ref>

Although milkshakes and [[malted milk]] had been around for some time before, Walgreens has claimed credit for the popularization of the malted [[milkshake]] (or at least its version of it, invented by [[Ivar "Pop" Coulson]] in 1922).<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Past |url=http://www.walgreens.com/about/history/hist4.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501155205/http://www.walgreens.com/about/history/hist4.jsp |archive-date=May 1, 2008 |access-date=March 6, 2008 |publisher=Walgreens}}</ref>

The stock market crash in October 1929 and subsequent [[Great Depression]] did not greatly affect the company.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} By 1934, Walgreens was operating 601 stores in 30 states.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} After Walgreen died in 1939, his son [[Charles Rudolph Walgreen Jr.|Charles R. Walgreen Jr.]] took over the chain until his retirement. 

In 1946, Walgreens purchased [[Grupo Sanborns|Sanborns]], one of [[Mexico]]'s largest pharmacy and department store chains, from Frank Sanborn (Walgreens sold Sanborns to [[Grupo Carso]] in 1982).<ref>{{cite web|title=Sanborn Hermanos|url=http://www.sanborns.com.mx/sanborns/sanborns_hist.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228175659/http://www.sanborns.com.mx/Sanborns/sanborns_hist.asp|archive-date=February 28, 2008|access-date=March 6, 2008|publisher=[[Grupo Sanborns|Sanborns]]|language=es}}</ref> 

Charles "Cork" R. Walgreen III took over after Walgreen Jr.'s retirement in the early 1950s and modernized the company by switching to [[barcode]] scanning. {{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}The company also created larger-sized Walgreens Superstores and purchased the [[Globe Discount City]] chain of [[big-box stores]] from United Mercantile, Inc. in the 1960s.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} The Walgreen family was not involved in senior management of the company for a short time after Walgreen III retired. In the 1980s Walgreens owned and operated a chain of casual family restaurants/[[pancake house]]s called [[Wag's]]. Walgreens sold most of these to [[Marriott Corp.]] in 1988,<ref>{{cite news|date=June 30, 1988|title=Marriott to Buy 91 Wag's Restaurants|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE5DD1431F933A05755C0A96E948260|access-date=March 6, 2008}}</ref> and by 1991 the chain was out of business. In 1986, Walgreens acquired the MediMart chain from Stop & Shop.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3007/is_15_25/ai_n29055026/ | work=Chain Drug Review | title=Walgreens buys Medi Mart | year=2003 | access-date=2011-10-11 | archive-date=2016-01-07 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107031855/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3007/is_15_25/ai_n29055026/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Kevin P. Walgreen was made a vice-president in 1995 and promoted to senior vice president of store operations in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://news.walgreens.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1108 |title= Kevin P. Walgreen |publisher= Walgreens |access-date= March 6, 2008 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080406121055/http://news.walgreens.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1108 |archive-date= April 6, 2008 }}</ref>[[File:A Walgreens pharmacy in Murphy, North Carolina.jpg|thumb|A Walgreens pharmacy in [[Murphy, North Carolina]] in 2023]]
[[File:The_interior_of_a_Walgreens_pharmacy_in_Murphy,_North_Carolina,_United_States_03.jpg|thumb|The prescription counter in the pharmacy department of a typical Walgreens]]

===21st century===
==== 2000s ====
On July 12, 2006, [[David Bernauer]] stepped down as CEO of Walgreens and was replaced by company president [[Jeff Rein]], who was later named [[chief executive officer]] and [[Chair (official)|chairman of the board]]. That year, Walgreens acquired the [[Happy Harry's]] chain in [[Delaware]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[Maryland]], and [[New Jersey]].<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/2006/06/06/walgreen-to-acquire-happy-harrys-chain/ Walgreen to acquire Happy Harry's chain - Baltimore Sun] . Articles.baltimoresun.com (June 6, 2006). Retrieved on September 5, 2013.</ref> In 2007, Walgreens acquired [[Hal Rosenbluth|Hal Rosenbluth's]] Take Care Health Systems, a chain of quick-care clinics, for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-05-28 |title=Walgreen to buy clinic operator Take Care Health|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSWNAS1741/ |access-date=2024-05-16 |website=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> On October 10, 2008, Rein was replaced by Alan G. McNally as chairman and acting CEO.<ref name="reinretires">{{cite news |last=Andrejczak |first=Matt |date=October 10, 2008 |title=Walgreen CEO quits after two years at helm |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/walgreen-ceo-exits-after-two-years-at-helm |access-date=October 16, 2020 |newspaper=Marketwatch}}</ref> On January 26, 2009, [[Gregory Wasson]] was named CEO effective February 1, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wohl|first=Jessica|date=January 26, 2009|title=Walgreen picks insider Wasson to be next CEO|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE50P0RT20090126|access-date=January 26, 2009}}</ref>

==== 2010s ====
In 2010, Walgreens acquired New York City-area chain [[Duane Reade]] for $1.075 billion, including debt, and continued to use the Duane Reade name on some stores in the New York City metropolitan area.<ref name="Walgreens">[http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100217005827/en/Walgreens-Acquire-York-based-Drugstore-Chain-Duane-Reade "Walgreens to Acquire New York-based Drugstore Chain Duane Reade"], February 17, 2010, Retrieved June 27, 2013,</ref> In March 2011, Walgreens acquired [[Drugstore.com]] for $409 million.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kevin|last=Woodward|title=Merchandising and Design - Beauty.com: A refined look - Internet Retailer|url=http://www.internetretailer.com/2012/11/27/beautycom-refined-look|access-date=June 15, 2015}}</ref> On June 19, 2012, Walgreens paid $6.7 billion for a 45% interest in [[Alliance Boots]].<ref>{{cite news|date=June 19, 2012|title=US retailer Walgreen buys 45% stake in Alliance Boots|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18504340}}</ref> That year, Walgreens acquired [[Mid-South (region)|Mid-South]] drugstore chain operating under the [[USA Drug]], Super D Drug, May's Drug, Med-X, and Drug Warehouse banners.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 5, 2012|title=Walgreens to acquire mid-South drug store chain|url=http://drugstorenews.com/article/walgreens-acquire-mid-south-drug-store-chain|access-date=July 5, 2012|publisher=Drug Store News|archive-date=July 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708172604/http://drugstorenews.com/article/walgreens-acquire-mid-south-drug-store-chain|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2010, Walgreens filed a [[trademark infringement]] [[lawsuit]] against the [[Wegmans]] supermarket chain, claiming the "W" in the Wegman's logo was too similar to Walgreens's.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 6, 2010 |title=Walgreens sues Wegmans in logo dispute |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/AP0d26cbf8d065497781f4dc5f4336a3b3.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108222151/http://online.wsj.com/article/AP0d26cbf8d065497781f4dc5f4336a3b3.html |archive-date=November 8, 2010 |access-date=November 17, 2010 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> The suit was settled in April 2011, with Wegmans agreeing to discontinue use of its "W" logo by June 2012, although the supermarket retained the right to use the "Wegmans" name in script.<ref name="auipb">{{cite web |last=Patterson |first=Richard |date=April 27, 2011 |title=Wegmans Settles with Walgreens over War of W's |url=http://www.ipbrief.net/2011/04/27/wegmans-settles-with-walgreens-over-war-of-w%E2%80%99s/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607191544/http://www.ipbrief.net/2011/04/27/wegmans-settles-with-walgreens-over-war-of-w%E2%80%99s/ |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=June 9, 2011 |work=Intellectual Property Brief |publisher=American University}}</ref><ref name="walgreenpr">{{cite web |title=Press Release: Wegmans Releases Statement on Lawsuit Resolution |url=http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PressReleaseDetailView?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=720935 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505055539/http://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PressReleaseDetailView?productId=720935&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&langId=-1 |archive-date=May 5, 2011 |access-date=June 9, 2011}}</ref> Since 2010, Walgreens has had a technology office in [[Chicago]], serving as its digital hub.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Channick |first=Robert |title=Walgreens expanding tech office in Chicago, doubling downtown employees to 600 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-walgreens-tech-center-chicago-20171017-story.html |access-date=April 12, 2018 |work=chicagotribune.com}}</ref>

In 2011 Walgreens announced it would end its relationship with Express Scripts,<ref>{{cite news|title=Walgreens ramps up for end of Express Scripts deal|work=Chicago Tribune|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-walgreen-ramps-up-for-end-of-express-scripts-deal-20111230,0,7670406.story|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231181555/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-walgreen-ramps-up-for-end-of-express-scripts-deal-20111230%2C0%2C7670406.story|archive-date=December 31, 2011}}</ref> a [[Pharmacy benefit management|prescription benefits manager]]. A coalition of minority groups, led by [[Al Sharpton]]'s National Action Network,<ref>{{cite news|title=Document Drop: Al Sharpton V. Walgreens|work=Daily News|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/12/document-drop-al-sharpton-v-walgreens#comment-911716|access-date=2012-01-14|archive-date=2014-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123050024/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/12/document-drop-al-sharpton-v-walgreens#comment-911716|url-status=dead}}</ref> sent letters urging CEO Gregory Wasson to reconsider. Groups sending letters were National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference,<ref>{{cite news|title=Largest Latino Religious Group Joins Chorus Critical Changed|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/2011/12/28/DC27937}}</ref> the Congress of Racial Equality,<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/congress-of-racial-equality-core-warns-walgreens-decision-to-drop-express-scripts-will-hurt-poor-135695368.html Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Warns of Walgreens Plans to Abandon Lower-income & Minority Communities Would Consider Urging Boycott if Course not Walgreens Decision to Drop Express Scripts... - NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/]. Prnewswire.com (December 15, 2011). Retrieved on September 5, 2013.</ref> Hispanic Leadership Fund<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/hispanic-leadership-fund-walgreens-dispute-threatens-health-care-150707718.html]{{dead link|date=September 2013}}</ref> and others. In 2012, Walgreens announced that it would continue to participate in Express Scripts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Isidore |first=Chris |title=Walgreen, Express Scripts settle prescription spat |url=https://money.cnn.com/2012/07/19/investing/walgreens-express-scripts/index.htm |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=CNNMoney}}</ref> Many news outlets described the overall process as a conflict, with terms like "spat,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krauskopf |first=Lewis |last2=Wohl |first2=Jessica |date=19 July 2012 |title=Express Scripts, Walgreens settle pharmacy spat |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/express-scripts-walgreen-settle-pharmacy-spat-idUSBRE86I0MX/ |website=Reuters}}</ref> "battle,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fein |first=Adam J. |last2=Ph.D. |title=Walgreens is Losing Its Battle with Express Scripts |url=https://www.drugchannels.net/2012/05/walgreens-is-losing-its-battle-with.html |access-date=2025-05-12}}</ref> "war,"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Walgreen, Express Scripts End War {{!}} CFO.com |url=https://www.cfo.com/news/walgreen-express-scripts-end-war/667082/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=www.cfo.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and "rift."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-07-24 |title=Walgreens and Express Scripts Mend Rift |url=https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/walgreens-and-express-scripts-mend-rift |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=Pharmacy Times |language=en}}</ref> 

[[File:Walgreens, Neptune Beach.jpg|thumb|275x275px|Walgreens location in [[Neptune Beach, Florida]] in 2017]]

In July 2013, Walgreens had attempted to acquire Toronto-based [[Shoppers Drug Mart]], which would have marked Walgreen's first expansion into Canada and outside the U.S., but ultimately acquired by [[Loblaw Companies]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-07-17 |title=Walgreens Could Have Bought Shoppers Drug Mart. Could Walgreen’s Still Come to Canada? |url=https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2013/07/walgreens-could-have-bought-shoppers/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Retail Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> Later on September 10, 2013, Walgreens announced it had acquired [[Kerr Drug]].<ref>{{cite news|date=September 10, 2013|title=Walgreens furthers reach into North Carolina with acquisition of Kerr Drug|work=Drug Store News|url=http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/walgreens-furthers-reach-north-carolina-acquisition-kerr-drug|access-date=September 11, 2013|archive-date=September 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913012840/http://www.drugstorenews.com/article/walgreens-furthers-reach-north-carolina-acquisition-kerr-drug|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

In the summer of 2014, a corporate relocation to Switzerland was considered as part of a merger with Alliance Boots, a European drugstore chain.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sorkin |first=Andrew Ross |date=July 2014 |title=At Walgreen, Renouncing Corporate Citizenship |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/06/30/renouncing-corporate-citizenship}}</ref> This drew controversy as many consumers felt that it was an attempt at [[tax inversion]]. In August 2014, Walgreens purchased the remaining 55% of [[Alliance Boots]]. The combined company became known as the [[Walgreens Boots Alliance]] and was headquartered in Chicago.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 6, 2014|title=Walgreens buys up rest of Alliance Boots: The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/aug/06/walgreens-buys-alliance-boots-9bn-pounds}}</ref><ref name="WalgreensBoots">{{cite news|title=Post Alliance Boots buyout Walgreens to stay on in US|publisher=Chicago News.Net|url=http://www.chicagonews.net/index.php/sid/224504233|access-date=August 7, 2014}}</ref> In December of that year, Walgreens purchased the Almus Pharmaceutical generic brand.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Almus/Walgreens purchase $3.85 billion dollars|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1618921/000114036116083198/ex21.htm}}</ref> Also that year, Walgreens acquired [[Farmacias Benavides]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Aznarez|first=Cesar|date=2019-06-11|title=La receta de Walgreens Boots Alliance para que Farmacias Benavides entre a su plan global • Forbes México|url=https://www.forbes.com.mx/estrategias-globales-de-walgrestrategias-globales-de-walgreens-boots-allianceeens-boots-alliance/|access-date=2020-04-23|website=Forbes México|language=es-MX}}</ref> On July 28, 2016, Walgreens announced it would shut down [[Drugstore.com]], as well as Beauty.com, to focus on its own Walgreens.com website.<ref>Northwest Innovation, " [http://www.nwinnovation.com/drugstore_com_beauty_com_to_be_shut_down_by_walgreens/s-0066446.html Drugstore.com, Beauty.com To Be Shut Down By Walgreens]." July 28, 2016.</ref> On September 19, 2017, the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) approved Walgreens' fourth attempt to purchase Rite Aid, with 1,932 stores, for $4.38 billion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Langreth |first1=Robert |last2=McLaughlin |first2=David |name-list-style=and |date=September 19, 2017 |title=Walgreens Wins U.S. Approval for Rite Aid Deal on Fourth Try |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-19/walgreens-pact-to-buy-fewer-rite-aid-stores-wins-u-s-approval |access-date=September 19, 2017 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |location=[[New York City]]}}</ref>

==== 2020s ====
In February 2020, Walgreens announced the appointment of president of operations Richard Ashworth as company president, but he left within the year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Walgreens Boots Alliance Appoints Richard Ashworth President of Walgreens|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walgreens-boots-alliance-appoints-richard-151500275.html|access-date=March 12, 2020|website=finance.yahoo.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Klicki|first=Richard|date=February 6, 2020|title=Walgreens names new president|url=https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20200206/walgreens-names-new-president|access-date=March 12, 2020|website=Daily Herald|language=en-US}}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=February 2022|note=departure citation needed}}

Walgreens announced it was closing 150 locations in the U.S. (plus 300 in the UK) in June 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maruf |first=Ramishah |date=2023-06-30 |title=Walgreens is closing 450 locations {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/30/investing/walgreens-150-store-closings/index.html |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Closed Walgreens.jpg|thumb|A Walgreens store that closed in early 2025, one of many branches to close around that time]]
On June 27, 2024, Walgreens said it would close a "significant portion" of its 8,600 U.S. locations within three years as it struggled to keep up with a fast-changing retail pharmacy industry. The company said 25 percent, or around 2,150 of its stores were underperforming and would be considered for closure. It did not identify any closure locations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Walgreens to close 'underperforming' U.S. stores |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/06/27/walgreens-closes-stores-underperforming/7251719507787 |work=[[United Press International]] |date=June 27, 2024 |access-date=June 30, 2024}}</ref> 

In December 2024, Walgreens Boots Alliance was in talks to sell itself to private equity firm [[Sycamore Partners]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lombardo |first=Cara |last2=Thomas |first2=Lauren |last3=Mathews |first3=Anna Wilde |name-list-style=and |date=December 11, 2024 |title=Walgreens Is in Talks to Sell Itself to Private-Equity Firm Sycamore Partners |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/walgreens-sycamore-partners-private-equity-deal-5d14c920 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref> In March 2025, Walgreens announced it had finalized a deal with [[Sycamore Partners]] to go private for an equity value of $10 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Constantino |first=Annika Kim |date=2025-03-06 |title=Walgreens to go private in roughly $10 billion deal with Sycamore Partners |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/06/walgreens-to-go-private-in-10-billion-deal-with-sycamore-partners.html |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref>
== Store model ==
[[File:Washington Marriott.JPG|thumb|right|Walgreens corner store located in street-level retail space, [[Washington, D.C.]]]]
[[File:The interior of a Walgreens pharmacy in Murphy, North Carolina, United States 01.jpg|thumb|A typical Walgreens interior with greeting cards on display]]

In its 2009 business model, Walgreens are freestanding corner stores, with the entrance on the street with the most [[traffic flow]], figuratively making it a "corner drugstore" similar to how many independent pharmacies evolved. Many stores have a drive-through pharmacy.<ref>{{cite web
 |url= http://www.walgreens.com/store/promotion/printer_refills/default.jsp?ban=ribbons_inkjet |title= Printer Cartridge Refills |publisher= Walgreens |access-date= March 6, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080302161746/http://www.walgreens.com/store/promotion/printer_refills/default.jsp?ban=ribbons_inkjet |archive-date = March 2, 2008}}</ref>

Most freestanding stores have a similar look and layout, including a bigger and more spacious layout than certain stores in major cities. Newer buildings have a more modern design than older stores. Some stores in major cities, such as [[New York City|New York]] and [[Chicago]], have multiple floors, most notably their [[flagship store]]s. Behind the front registers are [[tobacco products]] and [[Alcoholic drink|alcoholic beverages]]. Some stores do not sell these products, e.g., [[Alcohol laws of New Jersey|New Jersey]] stores that do not sell alcohol and [[Massachusetts]] stores that do not sell tobacco.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Massachusetts becomes 6th state to pass Tobacco 21, 1st State to Prohibit Tobacco Sales in Pharmacies – Counter Tobacco |url=https://countertobacco.org/massachusetts-becomes-6th-state-to-pass-tobacco-21-1st-state-to-prohibit-tobacco-sales-in-pharmacies/ |access-date=December 5, 2018 |publisher=countertobacco.org}}</ref>

==Lawsuits and criticism against Walgreens==
===Allegations of discrimination===
In March 2008, Walgreens settled a lawsuit with the [[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission]] (EEOC) that alleged the company discriminated against African Americans for $24 million.<ref name="eeoc.gov">[http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/3-25-08.cfm Final Decree entered with Walgreens for $24 million in landmark race discrimination suit by EEOC]. Eeoc.gov. Retrieved on September 5, 2013.</ref> The settlement was split between the 10,000 African-American employees of the company.<ref name="eeoc.gov"/> In the agreement, Walgreens avoided any admission of guilt.

{{blockquote|The decree, one of the largest monetary settlements in a race case by the EEOC, provides for the payment of over $24 million to a class of thousands of African American workers and orders comprehensive injunctive relief designed to improve the company's promotion and store assignment practices.}}

In September 2011, Walgreens settled a lawsuit with the EEOC that claimed that a store improperly terminated a worker with diabetes for eating a package of the store's food while working to stop a hypoglycemia attack.<ref>{{cite news|title=Walgreens Sued By EEOC For Disability Discrimination|url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/walgreens-sued-eeoc-disability-discrimination|access-date=December 13, 2013|newspaper=The National Law Review|date=September 12, 2011}}</ref>

===Drug fraud===
[[File:Walgreenssign.jpg|thumb|right|A Walgreens in [[Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey]], which opened in 2006]]
In June 2008, after Walgreens was sued for drug fraud—"switching dosage forms on three medications without doctor approvals in order to boost profits"—it agreed to stop these actions and pay $35 million to the federal government, 42 states, and the [[Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)|Commonwealth]] of [[Puerto Rico]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jun/05/walgreens-agrees-stop-altering-perscriptions/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606060224/http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jun/05/walgreens-agrees-stop-altering-perscriptions/ |archive-date=June 6, 2008 |work=Knoxville News Sentinel |title=Walgreens agrees to stop altering perscriptions &#91;sic&#93; |date=June 5, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pharmacyfraudsettlement.com/Walgreens/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607072513/http://www.pharmacyfraudsettlement.com/Walgreens/ |archive-date=June 7, 2008 |title=The Walgreens Case |publisher=Behn & Wyetzner |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=June 4, 2008|title=Walgreens to pay $35 million to settle drug-fraud suit|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/986995,wags060408.article|url-status=dead|access-date=June 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607002953/http://www.suntimes.com/business/986995%2Cwags060408.article|archive-date=June 7, 2008}}</ref>

===Federal billing fraud and price negotiation===
Also in June 2008, Walgreens "agreed to pay $35 million to the U.S. and 42 states and Puerto Rico for overcharging state Medicaid programs by filling prescriptions with more expensive dosage forms of ranitidine, a generic form of Zantac, and fluoxetine, a generic form of Prozac."<ref name="Kell">{{cite news |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204409004577158743226473430.html |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |first=John |last=Kell |title=Lawsuit Says Walgreen, Par Pharma Overcharged |date=January 13, 2012 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2008/June/08-civ-496.html |title=Walgreens to Pay $35 Million to U.S., 46 States & Puerto Rico to Settle Medicaid Prescription Drug Fraud Allegations |date=June 4, 2008 |work=[[United States Department of Justice]]}}</ref>

In 2009, Walgreens threatened to leave the Medicaid program, the state and federal partnership to provide health insurance coverage to the poor, in Delaware over reimbursement rates. Walgreens was the largest pharmacy chain in the state and the only chain to make such a threat.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/walgreen-idUSN0422921420090604 | work=Reuters | title=UPDATE 1-Walgreen exiting Delaware Medicaid program | date=June 4, 2009 | access-date=July 3, 2017 | archive-date=July 3, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703175251/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/06/04/walgreen-idUSN0422921420090604 | url-status=live }}</ref> The state of Delaware and Walgreens reached an agreement on payment rates and the crisis was averted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chaindrugreview.com/front-page/newsbreaks/reports-walgreens-reaches-medicaid-rx-deal-in-delaware|title=Reports: Walgreens reaches Medicaid Rx deal in Delaware|date=August 11, 2009|access-date=June 27, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831095610/http://www.chaindrugreview.com/front-page/newsbreaks/reports-walgreens-reaches-medicaid-rx-deal-in-delaware|archive-date=August 31, 2009}}</ref>

In 2010, Walgreens stopped accepting Medicaid in Washington state, leaving its one million Medicaid recipients unable to use Medicaid to pay for their prescriptions filled at these 121 stores.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011367936_walgreens18m.html |work=The Seattle Times |first=Janet I. |last=Tu |title=Walgreens: no new Medicaid patients as of April 16 |date=March 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111195102/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011367936_walgreens18m.html |archive-date=January 11, 2012 }}</ref>

On April 20, 2012, the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] announced that Walgreens agreed to pay $7.9 million in a settlement. The fine related to allegations of violations of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act regarding beneficiaries of federal health care programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=9f51abb9-4ded-46e2-9622-88b28abc9000|title=Walgreens pays $7.9 million after kickback allegations - Lexology|first1=Calfee|last1=Halter|first2=Anthea R.|last2=Daniels|first3=Mona|last3=Ma|date=31 May 2012}}</ref>

In January 2019, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. agreed to pay more than $269 million to settle federal and state lawsuits that accused the corporation of overbilling federal healthcare programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/walgreens-to-pay-269-million-on-claims-it-overcharged-federal-programs-11548204714|title=Walgreens to Pay $269 Million on Claims It Overcharged Federal Programs|last=Thomas|first=Patrick|date=January 22, 2019|website=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> In September 2024, it agreed to another $106 million to settle whistleblower claims it billed federal programs for prescriptions that were temporarily bottled, but never picked up by patients.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-settlement-prescriptions-never-dispensed-justice-department-493133ef568870a171338850a3b59110 |title=Walgreens to pay $106M to settle allegations it submitted false payment claims for prescriptions |agency=Associated Press |date=September 14, 2024}}</ref>

===Use of proprietary drugs===
{{update section|date=November 2022}}
Walgreens was named in a lawsuit by the [[United Food and Commercial Workers|United Food and Commercial Workers Unions]] and Employers Midwest Health Benefits Fund in the Northern District Court of Illinois in January 2012. The suit alleged that Walgreens and [[Par Pharmaceutical]] violated the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]]<ref>[http://ifawebnews.com/2012/01/24/walgreen-par-sued-for-alleged-rico-violations-drug-overcharges/ Walgreen, Par sued for alleged RICO violations, drug overcharges] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022003324/http://ifawebnews.com/2012/01/24/walgreen-par-sued-for-alleged-rico-violations-drug-overcharges/ |date=October 22, 2012 }}. IFAwebnews.com (January 24, 2012). Retrieved on September 5, 2013.</ref> in "at least two widespread schemes to overcharge" for generic drugs.<ref name="Kell"/>

{{blockquote|The lawsuit alleges drugstore chain Walgreen and generic pharmaceutical maker Par established a partnership in which Par manufactured and/or marketed generic versions of antacid Zantac and antidepressant Prozac in dosage forms that weren't subject to private and governmental reimbursement limitations.

It further said Walgreen purchased those dosage forms from Par at a cost substantially higher than the widely prescribed dosage forms and then "systematically and unlawfully filled its customers' prescriptions with Par's more expensive products rather than the inexpensive dosage forms that were prescribed by physicians."}}

===Distribution of opioids===
In September 2012, the U.S. [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA) accused Walgreens of endangering public safety and barred the company from shipping oxycodone and other controlled drugs from its [[Jupiter, Florida]], distribution center. The DEA said that Walgreens failed to maintain proper controls to ensure that it did not dispense drugs to addicts and drug dealers. The DEA also said that six of Walgreens' Florida pharmacies ordered in excess of one million oxycodone pills a year. In contrast, in 2011 the average pharmacy in the U.S. ordered 73,000 oxycodone tablets a year according to the DEA. One Walgreens pharmacy in Fort Myers, Florida, ordered 95,800 pills in 2009, but by 2011, this number had jumped to 2.2 million pills in one year. Another example was a Walgreens pharmacy in Hudson, Florida, a town of 34,000 people near Clearwater, that purchased 2.2 million pills in 2011, the DEA said. Immediate suspension orders are an action taken when the DEA believes a registrant, such as a pharmacy or a doctor, is "an imminent danger to the public safety." All DEA licensees "have an obligation to ensure that medications are getting into the hands of legitimate patients," said Mark Trouville, former DEA special agent in charge of the Miami Field Division. "When they choose to look the other way, patients suffer and drug dealers prosper."

The Jupiter, Florida, distribution center, which opened in 2001, is one of 12 such distribution centers owned by Walgreens. Since 2009, Walgreens' Jupiter facility has been Florida's largest distributor of oxycodone, the DEA said. Over the past three years, its market share has increased, and 52 Walgreens are among the top 100 oxycodone purchasers in the state, the DEA said.<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/17/walgreens-and-oxycodone/57782912/1 Walgreens and Oxycodone – USATODAY.com]. Usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved on September 5, 2013.</ref>

In 2013, [[United States Attorney]] [[Wifredo Ferrer]] said Walgreens committed "an unprecedented number" of recordkeeping and dispensing violations. Walgreens was fined $80 million, the largest fine in the history of the Controlled Substances Act at that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/11/walgreens-drug-oxycodone-license-80-million/2412451/|title=Walgreens to pay $80 million for oxycodone violations|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

In November 2021, a federal jury found that Walgreens, along with [[CVS Health|CVS]] and [[Walmart]], "had substantially contributed to" the [[Opioid epidemic|opioid crisis]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Hoffman|first=Jan|date=2021-11-23|title=CVS, Walgreens and Walmart Fueled Opioid Crisis, Jury Finds|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/health/walmart-cvs-opioid-lawsuit-verdict.html|url-access=limited|access-date=2021-12-06|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/health/walmart-cvs-opioid-lawsuit-verdict.html|archive-date=2021-12-28|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The trial lasted six weeks with the jury returning a verdict finding the pharmacies liable. It was the first trial where pharmacy companies defended themselves amid the opioid epidemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ohio-jury-finds-pharmacies-operated-by-cvs-walgreens-walmart-contributed-to-opioid-epidemic-11637695351|title=Walgreens, Walmart and CVS Pharmacies Contributed to Opioid Epidemic, Ohio Jury Finds|website=Wall Street Journal|date=November 23, 2021|first=Kris|last=Maher|access-date=March 24, 2022}}</ref>

In May 2022, Walgreens agreed to pay a settlement of $683 million to the state of Florida concerning opioid sales. Walgreens did not admit to wrongdoing as part of the settlement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/walgreens-reaches-683-mln-opioid-settlement-with-florida-5|website=Financial Post|date=May 5, 2022|first=Dietrich|last=Knauth|title=Walgreens reaches $683 MLN opioid settlement with Florida |access-date=May 5, 2022}}</ref>

In August 2022, the state of Tennessee sued Walgreens, alleging that the pharmacy fueled the state's opioid epidemic by failing to maintain effective controls against abuse of the prescription painkiller. The lawsuit claims that Walgreens willfully flooded the market with an oversupply of prescription narcotics in violation of public nuisance and consumer protection laws.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gluck |first=Frank |title=Tennessee sues Walgreens over 'unlawful' opioid sales |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2022/08/03/tennessee-sues-walgreens-over-unlawful-prescription-opioid-sales/10230655002/ |access-date=2022-08-04 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gorman |first=Steve |date=2022-08-04 |title=Tennessee sues Walgreens pharmacy chain over opioid distribution |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/tennessee-sues-walgreens-pharmacy-chain-over-opioid-distribution-2022-08-04/ |access-date=2022-08-04}}</ref>

In August 2022, a federal judge in [[Cleveland]] awarded $650 million to [[Lake County, Ohio|Lake County]] and [[Trumbull County, Ohio|Trumbull County]] in an opioid suit that included [[CVS Pharmacy|CVS]] and [[Walmart]]. Lawyers representing the counties said the companies were responsible for $3.3 billion in damages. Two other companies, [[Rite Aid]] and [[Giant Eagle]], were also sued by the counties but settled before trial for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 August 2022 |title=Walgreens, Walmart and CVS ordered to pay $650 million over opioid sales |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/walgreens-walmart-cvs-ordered-pay-650-million-opioid-sales-rcna43698 |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

===Fines over continuous discrepancies in shelf price and scanned price===
[[File:Walgreens store.jpg|thumb|A Walgreens on Rt.1 South, Saugus, Massachusetts in 2012]]
[[Wisconsin]]'s [[Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection|Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection]] fined Walgreens over differences between shelf price and scanned price and for signage in 2012. In 2013, Walgreens paid a $29,241 fine.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Walgreens fined for price scanner inaccuracies |date=March 25, 2013 |url= https://www.channel3000.com/news/local-news/walgreens-fined-for-price-scanner-inaccuracies/article_2ca0b21a-6d1e-5ef9-83e9-bece7cebdb7c.html|access-date=November 18, 2023}}</ref>

The New York State Attorney General announced in April 2016 that a settlement was reached in the complaint that Walgreens used misleading advertising and overcharged consumers. Walgreens would pay $500,000 in penalties, fees and costs, and change advertising and other practices.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heath |first=Dan |title=Walgreens fined over pricing issues |newspaper=[[Press-Republican]] |date=April 21, 2016 |url=http://www.pressrepublican.com/news/local_news/walgreens-fined-over-pricing-issues/article_ce288c0b-1f1e-5fc8-bd92-7f9c39c27a78.html |access-date=March 4, 2018}}</ref>

A judge in Kansas City, Missouri, ordered Walgreens to pay a $309,000 fine for pricing discrepancies in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heath |first=Dan |title=Missouri judge fines Walgreens $309,000 in pricing case |newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |date=June 17, 2016 |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/jun/17/missouri-judge-fines-walgreens-309000-in-pricing-c/ |access-date=March 4, 2018}}</ref>

===Illegal disposal of hazardous waste===
In December 2012, a judge ordered Walgreens to pay $16.57 million to settle a lawsuit claiming that over 600 stores were illegally dumping hazardous waste and unlawfully disposing of customer records containing confidential medical information.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 13, 2012 |title=Walgreens must pay $16M for illegal dumping |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/12/13/walgreens-illegal-dumping/1767869/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |agency=AP |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

===Selling expired products and over-charging===
A [[Santa Clara County Superior Court]] judge allowed Walgreens to pay $2.25 million in January 2018 to resolve a [[consumer protection]] lawsuit brought by Bay Area prosecutors alleging that the company sold expired baby food, infant formula, and over-the-counter drugs. The suit also alleged that Walgreens violated state law by charging more than the lowest-posted or -advertised price for items.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/30/bay-area-walgreens-settles-suit-claiming-it-sold-expired-baby-food/ |title=Walgreens settles lawsuit alleging it sold expired baby food in Bay Area |last=Green |first=Jason |work=The Mercury News |date=January 31, 2018 |access-date=May 2, 2019}}</ref>

===Medication denied because of religious beliefs===
In June 2018, a staff pharmacist at a Walgreens in [[Peoria, Arizona]], refused to give a woman medication to end her pregnancy. The medication was prescribed by a doctor after tests revealed that the pregnancy would end in a miscarriage. The woman said she was left "in tears and humiliated". Walgreens responded that its policy allows pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44591528|title=Pregnant woman 'humiliated' by Walgreens|last=Seales|first=Rebecca|date=June 24, 2018 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=June 24, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/Walgreens/photos/a.305142443610.145906.117497138610/10155931214178611/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/117497138610/10155931214178611 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Walgreens |publisher=[[Facebook]] |access-date=June 24, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===U.S SEC settlement for misleading investors===
In September 2018, Walgreens agreed to pay $34.5 million to settle a [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) investigation on charges of misleading investors on financial targets. The SEC alleged that former CEO Greg Wasson and then-CFO Wade Miquelon acted "negligently" in giving financial estimates.<ref>{{cite web |last=LaVito |first=Angelica |title=Walgreens to pay $34.5 million to settle charges of misleading investors on financial targets |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/28/sec-charges-walgreens-and-2-former-execs-with-misleading-investors-on-earnings-goals.html |website=CNBC |access-date=May 2, 2019 |language=en |date=September 28, 2018}}</ref>

===Over-billing governments===
In January 2019, Walgreens paid $269.2 million for two separate counts of defrauding the federal and 39 state governments in over-billing schemes.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 23, 2019|first=Susannah|last=Luthi|title=Walgreens to pay $269 million for overbilling government|url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20190123/NEWS/190129985/walgreens-to-pay-269-million-for-overbilling-government|work=Modern Healthcare}}</ref>

===Unlicensed pharmacist===
In February 2020, Walgreens agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle a consumer protection lawsuit accusing the company of placing people's health at risk by permitting an unlicensed person to work as a [[pharmacist]] without an adequate background check. The person had handled over 745,000 prescriptions and filled over 100,000 prescriptions for controlled substances. The State of California, Alameda County, and Santa Clara County all took part in the investigation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02/03/walgreens-to-pay-7-5-million-to-settle-fake-pharmacist-lawsuit/ |title=Walgreens to pay $7.5 million to settle fake pharmacist lawsuit |newspaper=[[San Jose Mercury News]] |date=February 4, 2020 |first=Joseph |last=Geha}}</ref> When it was asked by the California Board of Pharmacy during the investigation, Walgreens was unable to furnish a copy of her employment application. Although there are records that the person had attended classes in a university pharmacy program, there are no records that she had completed her degree requirements that would allow her to take the pharmacist licensing exams.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/longtime-phony-walgreens-pharmacist-745000-prescriptions-authorities/ |title=Longtime phony Walgreens pharmacist gave out 745,000 prescriptions, authorities say |date=January 31, 2019 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>

===Wage theft violations===
In March 2021, a class action against Walgreens resulted in a settlement of $4.5 million. Walgreens was accused of [[wage theft]] and labor law violations of its employees in California between 2010 and 2017, including that Walgreens "rounded down employees' hours on their timecards, required employees to pass through security checks before and after their shift without compensating them for time worked, and failed to pay premium wages to employees who were denied legally required meal breaks."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/walgreens-employees-in-california-secure-4-5-million-wage-deal|title=Walgreens Employees in California Secure $4.5 Million Wage Deal|website=[[Bloomberg Law]]|date=November 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://popular.info/p/a-tale-of-two-thefts|title=A tale of two thefts|first=Judd|last=Legum|author-link=Judd Legum|website=[[Popular Information]]|date=November 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Keehner |first=Steven |date=July 19, 2021 |title=Shoplifting Is Big News; Stealing Millions From Workers Is Not |url=https://fair.org/home/shoplifting-is-big-news-stealing-millions-from-workers-is-not/ |work=[[Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting]] |access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/MejiavWalgreenCoNo219CV002182020BL458362EDCalNov242020CourtOpinio?1607707069|title=Court Opinions, Case No. 2:19-cv-00218 WBS AC|website=[[Bloomberg Law]]|date=November 24, 2020}}</ref>

===Dispensing incorrect vaccines to preschoolers===
In September 2021, a Walgreens pharmacist in Baltimore, Maryland, accidentally gave a 4-year-old girl a full adult dosage of the [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine]] instead of the intended [[Influenza vaccine]]. A Walgreens spokesperson said such mistakes were rare.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-pfizer-vaccine-mix-up-baltimore-20210928-vgnzt4rxmbdrpcqt7oazlvdtfu-story.html |title=A Baltimore family went to get flu vaccines. Their 4-year-old accidentally walked out with a COVID shot. |first=Hallie |last=Miller |newspaper=[[Baltimore Sun]] |date=September 28, 2021}}</ref> A few weeks later, a Walgreens pharmacist in Evansville, Indiana, accidentally gave a 4-year-old boy, a 5-year-old girl, and their parents a full adult dosage each of the Pfizer vaccine instead of the intended flu vaccine. Unlike the Maryland girl, both Indiana children instantly got sick enough that the parents took them to a pediatric cardiologist for treatment. At the time of the injections, the FDA had not yet approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine to children under age 12. Although Pfizer was in the process of seeking approval for use in children ages 5 to 11 with the dosage that would be one third that for an adult, it had not asked permission to vaccinate children ages 4 and younger. This time, Walgreens refused to comment on the case when requested by news media.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.14news.com/2021/10/08/attorney-covid-19-vaccine-given-family-including-small-kids-instead-flu-shots/ |title=Exclusive: Family talks to 14 News about claims of vaccine mistake at Walgreens |work=[[WFIE]] |first1=Jill |last1=Lyman |first2=Tanner |last2=Holbrook |date=October 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Simonson |first1=Amy |last2=Holcombe |first2=Madeline |name-list-style=and |date=October 14, 2021 |title=Parents say Walgreens mistakenly injected them and their two kids with the Covid-19 vaccine instead of flu shot |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/13/us/parents-say-walgreens-mistake-covid-vaccine/index.html |access-date=February 25, 2025 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

=== Abortion pill controversy ===
In January 2023, Walgreens, in addition to [[CVS Pharmacy|CVS]], announced their intentions to start dispensing [[mifepristone]], one of the two drugs used in a [[Medical abortion|medication abortion]], following a change in regulations from the [[Food and Drug Administration]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kimball |first=Spencer |last2=Coombs |first2=Bertha |date=2023-01-05 |title=CVS and Walgreens plan to sell abortion pill mifepristone at pharmacies after FDA rule change |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/05/abortion-cvs-and-walgreens-will-sell-mifepristone-in-pharmacies.html |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> The offering of abortion pills at [[Pharmacies in the United States|pharmacies]] such as Walgreens has caused major political turmoil, and has resulted in numerous [[protest]]s in-front of the pharmacies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ollstein |first=Alice Miranda |last2=Gardner |first2=Lauren |name-list-style=and |date=2023-01-11 |title=Next frontier in the abortion wars: Your local CVS |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/11/pharmacies-anti-abortion-pills-00077349 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Politico |language=en}}</ref>

After receiving their certification to do so, Walgreens started offering abortion pills at a few of their locations. However, numerous [[State attorney general|attorneys general]] in conservative states sent advisories to Walgreens to not sell abortion pills within their state. Walgreens conceded, which caused criticism from numerous [[Abortion-rights movement|abortion-rights activists]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Radde |first1=Kaitlyn |last2=McCammon |first2=Sarah |date=March 4, 2023 |title=Walgreens won't sell abortion pills in red states that threatened legal action |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/04/1161143595/walgreens-abortion-pill-mifepristone-republican-threat-legal-action |access-date=December 29, 2024 |website=[[NPR]]}}</ref>

[[California]] Governor [[Gavin Newsom]] announced that the state would no longer be doing business with Walgreens due to the company's response to conservative states on abortion pills.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 7, 2023 |title=California to not do business with Walgreens over abortion pills issue, Governor says |publisher=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-not-do-business-with-walgreens-over-abortion-pills-issue-governor-2023-03-06/ |access-date=March 7, 2023}}</ref>

=== Metrics ===
In 2022, Walgreens dropped task-based metrics for pharmacy staff performance due to concerns that speed KPIs were putting patient safety at risk.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Adiel |last2=Nguyen |first2=Vicky |last3=Godie |first3=Mary |name-list-style=and |date=16 March 2021 |title=Pharmacists say they're overworked and understaffed, risking patient safety |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/overworked-understaffed-pharmacists-say-industry-crisis-puts-patient-safety-risk-n1261151 |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Adiel |last2=Springer |first2=Samantha |last3=Nguyen |first3=Vicky |name-list-style=and |date=30 December 2021 |title=Now pharmacies don't have enough staff to keep up with prescriptions |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/latest-worker-shortage-may-affect-health-pharmacies-dont-enough-staff-rcna8737 |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Walgreens will stop judging its pharmacy staff by how fast they work |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/walgreens-will-stop-judging-pharmacy-staff-fast-work-rcna54297 |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=NBC News |date=28 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Walgreens Sharpens Focus on Patient Care and Experience, Eliminating Task-Based Metrics for Pharmacy Staff Performance Reviews Chainwide |url=https://www.walgreensbootsalliance.com/news-media/press-releases/2022/walgreens-sharpens-focus-on-patient-care-and-experience-eliminating-task-based-metrics-for-pharmacy-staff-performance-reviews-chainwide |access-date=1 May 2024 |work=Walgreens Boots Alliance |date=30 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

== Brands ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+List of Walgreens Boots Alliance brands<ref>{{Cite web|title=Product Brands {{!}} Walgreens Boots Alliance|url=https://www.walgreensbootsalliance.com/newsroom/multimedia/company-photos/global-brands/|access-date=September 26, 2019|website=walgreensbootsalliance.com}}</ref>
!Brand
!Product
|-
|Almus Pharmaceuticals
|Medication
|-
|Be Jolly
|Holiday
|-
|Big Roll
|Toilet Paper
|-
|Botanics
|Skincare
|-
|Complete Home
|Household
|-
|CYO
|Cosmetics
|-
|Certainty 
|Incontinence 
|-
|Dashing
|Holiday
|-
|Finest Nutrition
|Vitamins
|-
|Infinitive
|Electronics
|-
|Liz Earle
|Skincare (UK)
|-
|Modern Expressions
|Holiday
|-
|Nice!
|Groceries
|-
|[[No. 7 (brand)|No. 7]]
|Skincare
|-
|Patriot Candles
|Candles
|-
|PetShoppe
|Pets
|-
|Playright
|Toys
|-
|Sleek MakeUP
|Cosmetics
|-
|Smile & Save
|Paper Towels
|-
|Soap & Glory
|Cosmetics
|-
|Soltan
|Sunscreen (UK)
|-
|Well at Walgreens
|Healthcare
|-
|Well Beginnings 
|Baby
|-
|West Loop
|Clothing
|-
|Wexford
|Office Supplies
|-
|YourGoodSkin
|Skincare
|}[[File:Walgreens on Canal Street in New Orleans at night.JPG|thumb|250px|A [[Neon lighting|neon-lit]] store on Canal Street in {{no wrap|[[New Orleans]]}} in 2015]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Chicago|Illinois|Companies}}
* [[Alliance Boots]]
* [[CVS Pharmacy]]
* [[Rite Aid]]
* [[Walgreen Coast]]

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|2}}

=== General sources ===
* {{cite book |last=Bacon |first=John U. |author-link=John U. Bacon |year=2004 |title=America's Corner Store: Walgreen's Prescription for Success |url=https://archive.org/details/americascornerst00baco |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |location=Hoboken, New Jersey |isbn= 978-0-471-42617-2 |access-date=15 July 2020 |url-access=registration}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
 
{{Walgreens Boots Alliance|state=expanded}}
{{Illinois Corporations}}
{{Theranos}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1901 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1901]]
[[Category:Companies based in Deerfield, Illinois]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange]]
[[Category:Former components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average]]
[[Category:Health care companies based in Illinois]]
[[Category:Pharmacies of the United States]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1901]]
[[Category:Walgreens Boots Alliance]]