Report: Walgreens to develop prepared meals for customers on the go

Deerfield, Ill. Walgreens is gearing up to expand its food sector by offering fresh foods and prepared meals for its customers, according to published reports.

The drug store chain is targeting shoppers on a time crunch and reportedly is in talks with such companies as Sara Lee and Unilever. The program will boost front-end sales.

“Everyone is time-starved, and we have the most convenient 7,000 locations in the U.S.," Bryan Pugh, Walgreens VP merchandising, told Bloomberg in a telephone interview. "They're on-the-way-home destinations that are easy to get in and out of, and will provide a good value."