Brookshire Grocery Co. sells pharmacy business to Walgreens
Brookshire Grocery Co. is selling its in-store pharmacies.
The Tyler, Texas-based grocery store operator said that Walgreens will acquire its 120 pharmacies in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, including pharmacy customer prescription files and related pharmacy inventory. Most of the locations are being converted to Walgreens pharmacies that will operate inside of Brookshire Grocery Co. (BCG) stores, but, as part of the agreement, a select few pharmacy locations will close.
“We are excited to take this next step with Walgreens to strengthen our pharmacies and further our commitment to our employee-partners and customers that make up our BGC family,” said Brad Brookshire, chairman and CEO of Brookshire Grocery Co. “The pharmacy industry has become increasingly complex over the past few years, and it was important to us to find a business leader that has the capabilities to focus on providing exceptional pharmacy services and value to our customers.”
The pharmacies in BCG’s Reasor’s stores in Oklahoma are not included in this transaction and will remain under BGC brand and ownership.
Pharmacy customers do not need to not take any action for their prescriptions to be transferred over as their prescriptions will transfer to Walgreens automatically. Customers will receive notification in the mail along with details about their prescriptions. (Patient files in the locations that are closing will transfer to either another in-store pharmacy at Brookshire’s or to a nearby Walgreens retail pharmacy.)
“Walgreens has a long history of serving communities throughout the U.S., and we look forward to providing BGC’s customers with greater access to a wide range of trusted pharmacy and healthcare services,” said Brad Ulrich, VP of pharmacy and retail operations for Walgreens. “Our pharmacists are playing a critical role in healthcare today, and we truly value the importance of the pharmacist-patient relationship. As part of our commitment to ensuring a seamless transition, we’re excited to also be providing employment opportunities for BGC’s existing pharmacy staff.”
Eligible BGC pharmacy employees are being offered employment opportunities with Walgreens.
Brookshire Grocery Co. currently operates more than 205 store locations in four states under the banners of Brookshire's, Super 1 Foods, Spring Market, Fresh by Brookshire's and Reasor’s.
Sidley Austin, LLP acted as lead legal advisor for Walgreens, along with Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP. The Food Partners served as strategic and financial adviser and Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. and Kilpatrick Townsend, and Haynes and Boone served as legal counsel to BGC.