Walgreens Nationwide Offer Freshly Prepared Food

by Nicki Gostin, Posted Jan 19th 2010 @ 3:30PM

Nick Ut, AP

You can already pick up fresh milk and eggs at Walgreens (besides much needed essentials like toilet paper, mascara or a snuggie wearable blanket). But now, in several hundred stores across the nation, you can also pick up freshly prepared food like fruit salads and sandwiches.

The South Bend Tribune is reporting that this rollout is new and available at all 7,000 stores, but Walgreens manager of media relations, Tiffani Washington, tells Slashfood that's not entirely accurate.

"We currently have a few hundred stores with sandwiches, salads and cut fruit," said Washington. "We are gathering learnings from those locations and looking at opportunities to appeal to on-the-go consumers with similar meal options in more stores."

In other words, the Deerfield, Ill.-based company is seeing how many people decide to grab a salad at while they're at Walgreens before expanding. That comes along the heels of the giant chain introducing wine and beer in approximately 65 percent of stores.

Connect the dots, and the thinking behind the plan might have been: "Hey, how about offering a sandwich to go along with that brewski?"

Filed Under: Business, Stores & Shopping Reviews, News
Tags: featured, walgreens, walgreens freshly prepared food, walgreens salad sandwiches

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-20-2010 @6:29AM K. said... This makes perfect since because as the leader in 24 hour drugstores, Walgreens is almost like a convienence store. Would like to see if it works.
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1-26-2010 @8:23AM Marjorie Alderson said... It would be wonderful to go into Walgreens for a few things, and know I could get so much more
in just one trip. Thanks.

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1-20-2010 @5:30PM linda said... Yes!! Competition for WalMart(YUK) and Circle K(DOUBLE YUK). Walgreens has good prices and that attracts people. Plus their prescription dept is so convenient ,if you are traveling especially, but, also for calling in renewals.
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1-20-2010 @9:40AM Linda said... Just make absollutely sure it is clean. Organic would be really nice.
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1-20-2010 @10:10AM Dennis said... Not a good idea. again another box with every thing. you loose the purpose of what a pharmacy is. you go into a supermaket and you get the same service. whats next get your prescription's at the local gas station. The more of this type of business open the more empty downtown Main Streets USA becomes.
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1-20-2010 @10:31AM JBaine said... Make no mistake here,There main goal here is to SELL BEER,,thats where the money's at,,but here and all around the country, towns,,,county's,,in order to sell beer in alot of places,,,you have to be a resteraunt,,,thus,,,,the sale of food,,,so they know this is easily covered,,with sandwiches salads and whatever. Its nothing but,,,A COVER UP to sell beer.
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1-20-2010 @10:55AM deb said... Just a clarification: The South Bend Tribune was accurate in its reporting. The article (see the South Bend Tribune link above) stated that Walgreens PLANS to provide this service is all of its stores, but is testing it in some local stores.
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1-20-2010 @12:08PM dorie said... I think it is a great idea. If you work and you run to pick up RX on your lunch hour it would be great to have a healthy lunch located at same store so you could get RX, lunch and rush back to work. Some of us only have shordt 1/2 hr lunch as this is a great idea.
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1-20-2010 @11:45AM Jim Fedullo said... i have traveled all over the country for many years and have spent a small fortune at walgreens . i for many years used to buy those $1.00 stuffed animals that came in many different options. in 2 years i probably bought $2000. worth of them ro give to kids that came into our retail stores. parents drag them around all day and they get a little cranky and it calmed them down. the kids are tired , hungry and mostly just bored. also i have found many of the tv itrms that they carry in their stores and a fair amount of food supplies and w/ weekly coupons they can be quite rexonable on the price, and one of the main things that i enjoy is if you need help, someone is almost always available to help you. i give most of their stores a thumbs up compared to many stores that i have shopped in & i have shopped in their stores in Ca, Az, Nv,Wa & Tn.
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1-20-2010 @12:15PM Animal said... I remember many years ago K Mart used to sell ham sandwiches by the bag. They were cheap in price but were very good. Along with having the small diners in the stores. They were booming for awhile. After they stopped both, it went into decline. So maybe this just will work for Walgreens. I also like browsing through and at times I find very good deals there at low cost.
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1-20-2010 @12:32PM David Flores Jr. said... What a great idea Walgreens!!!
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1-20-2010 @12:34PM Button said... Pick up your medication (MADE IN CHINA) and pick up your lunch (CHINESE MEAT AND CHINESE CHEESE, SHIPPED IN A CARGO CONTAINER MADE IN CHINA, ON A CHINESE SHIP AND MADE ON A PIECE OF GENERIC BREAD LOADED WITH CHEMICALS ...ALSO CHEMICALS FROM CHINA AND SERVED BY A VIETNAMESE WHO JUST WENT TO THE BATHROOM AND DIDN'T WASH HIS HANDS AFTER WIPING HIS BUTT) ....Sounds SO good to me. HA!
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1-20-2010 @1:23PM kimberly said... great idea !! how many people use the lunch break to pick up meds ? i do ! sure beats driving thru the burger joint . i currently work at a 7-11 , we also have the healthier foods choices . and its nice to see our regular customers choosing fresh fruits & salads over our more unhealthy foods , or a big bag of chips . Walgreens is a wonderful store . their prices are great . it would be nice to see a small sitting area for the customers to grab a quick bite too . go Walgreens !! ... and Thank You !
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1-20-2010 @1:58PM PATRICIA said... I LOVE SHOPPING AT WALGREENS. I HAVE A LOT OF PHOTOS DEVELOPED THERE BECAUSE THE PICTURES COME BACK OUTSTANDING. SOMETIMES THERE IS A LINE OR I HAVE TO WAIT A WHILE BECAUSE I USE AN OLD CAMERA WITH SPECIAL FILM THAT TAKES LONGER TO DO. I HAVE SUGGESTED TO THEM TO PUT SOME SMALL TABLES & CHAIRS & FRESH FOOD LIKE SANDWICHES YOU COULD BUY WHILE WAITING. THEY HAVE DRINKS, CHIPS, ETC. ALREADY. I ALWAYS BUY A DRINK & CHIPS OR A SNACK IF I WAIT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WOULD FIT THE TABLES & CHAIRS IN WALGREENS---BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A WAY TO KEEP PAYING CSTOMERS HAPPY WHEN THEY ARE WAITING & SPENDING MONEY IN THE STORE. I SHOP AT WALGREENS ON RIVERDALE ROAD & 36TH STREET, OGDEN/RIVERDALE, UT. GREAT MANAGER WHO GOES OUT OF HER WAY TO FIND ITEMS FOR YOU & A GREAT CAMERA/PHOTO DEPARTMENT. THIS STORE IS NOT OPENED 24 HOURS.

THANK YOU

PAT
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