Walgreen Co.

New York CIty -- With its array of in-store services, expanded food offerings and unexpected amenities, the new Duane Reade flagship in downtown Manhattan pushes the envelope of drugstore retailing -- and it does so with a style and ambience that sets it apart from the competition.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens’ stock was trading up 30 cents to $43.03 on the New York Stock Exchange mid-morning on Wednesday thanks to favorable same-store sales growth of 4.8% for the month of June versus an analyst consensus estimate of 2.8%.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens said Wednesday that its sales were up 6.8% in June, as more customers came to its stores and spent more money per trip. Same-store sales rose 4.8%.  Revenue increased to $6.04 billion from $5.65 billion.

Pharmacy revenue rose 6.2% and front-end sales were up 6.4%. The chain said monthly customer traffic rose 1.3% compared to June 2010, and customers spent 3.4% more per trip.

NEW YORK — Duane Reade, which is owned by Walgreens, is opening on July 6 its 22,000-sq.-ft. flagship store that has a decided “up market focus” with exclusive services and amenities never seen before in a Duane Reade or any other drug store.

The innovative 24-hour store is located at 40 Wall St., which is known as the "Crown Jewel of Wall Street" and once held the title of the tallest building in the world.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens is expanding its presence in Chicago, and adding 600 new jobs in the process. Under its new "Chicago Hometown Investment Initiative," the drugstore chain plan to expand its downtown office space, add new stores and remodel up to 142 existing units.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday unveiled plans to establish deeper roots on its home turf with its “Chicago Hometown Investment Initiative,” a plan that will create an estimated 600 new jobs in the city over the next two years and quadruple the number of Walgreens’ food oasis stores.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said Tuesday it will terminate a $5.3 billion-per-year relationship with Express Scripts.

Walgreen reported that contract negotiations with Express Scripts have failed, and it will stop participating in the St. Louis company's prescription plans starting Jan. 1. Express Scripts processes about 90 million prescriptions that will be filled at Walgreen stores in fiscal 2011, which will bring Walgreen about $5.3 billion in revenue.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. said its same-store sales role 5.6% in May, better than Wall Street expected.

Walgreen said pharmacy revenue from those stores rose 6.7% as it filled 7.1% more prescriptions. Front-end same-store sales grew 3.6%.

The company also said it completed its acquisition of Drugstore.com, an online health and beauty retailer. Walgreen agreed to buy the company in March for $429 million.