Walgreens tests new store format highlighting health, wellness

Walgreens is testing a smaller store concept that is focused on pharmacy.

The retailer has opened more than 30 small-format, pharmacy-led stores nationwide as part of a pilot, a Walgreens spokesperson told Chain Store Age. The stores are typically less than a quarter of the size of a Walgreens store, which average about 13,500 sq. ft., and are focused on delivering pharmacy and health and wellness products and services. 

The stores offer a full pharmacy and a more focused health and wellness and over-the-counter medicine offering, the spokesperson said, along with FedEx and ship-to-store services.

Currently, the small-format stores are being piloted in Michigan, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Tennessee, and Texas. 

"When selecting locations for these stores, we consider a number of factors, including nearby stores and community needs, to determine the ideal footprint to best serve our customers and patients," said the Walgreens spokesperson. "We continue to explore additional locations based on the need.

Walgreens said it will continue to evaluate opportunities and locations for additional small-format stores as it gathers learnings from the initial pilot.