Walgreens Boots Alliance plans to close 1,200 stores during the next three years, with 500 closures set for next year, in the face of low drug reimbursement rates and slower consumer spending.

The Deerfield, Illinois-based company on Tuesday said it would shutter roughly 14% of its U.S. locations and redeploy the majority of the workers impacted. “We are in a turnaround,” Tim Wentworth, the drugstore chain’s CEO, told an earnings call.

“The closure of so many stores is emblematic of a company that is in trouble and is trying to course correct,” commented Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData. “Walgreens spent years building its business through acquisitions and completely neglected the fundamentals of its stores and its retail operations,” the analyst added.

  • waldenA
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    1 month ago

    I know not everyone has this option, but we recently switched to a local pharmacy. It’s awesome. Scripts are always ready. Never a line. The pharmacist actually comes over and talks about side effects.

    I picked up multiple prescriptions for my wife over a period of a week for some shit she was going through and they actually went as far as asking if she’s going ok.

    Flu and COVID vaccines are walk-in, no appointment, and you can choose between Moderna and Pfizer.

    Compared to the chains around me it’s amazingly better. Worth the extra few minutes in the car.

    • femtech@midwest.social
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      1 month ago

      I have been thinking of doing that but I’m worried a more local mom n pop store is going to be conservative and give me shit about my hrt.

      • gamermanh@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 month ago

        Call and ask

        I did so for my Adderall during the shortage and quickly learned that every local pharmacy within 50 miles are run by terrible people :)

    • moncharleskey@lemmy.zip
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      1 month ago

      I’m in a rural area, and the only pharmacy is locally owned and I love it. Usually in and out, and like you I can get covid and flu shots there. Sure, they don’t sell orange juice and lawn chairs there, but there’s a Family Dollar next door.

      • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        Family Dollar and pretty much all dollar stores are rife with OSHA and health code violations. You might want to avoid getting orange juice there unless you are cool with it being covered in rat shit.