Walgreens enhances drive-thru during pandemic

As shoppers stocked up on home essentials during the coronavirus pandemic, Walgreens pivoted its pharmacy drive-thru locations to include household products, health and wellness and some food items. The retailer has enhanced this convenience with a new online and mobile feature that enables shoppers to order essential items in advance for pickup in the drive-thru lane.

The curated assortment of more than 100 household essential and health and wellness products were selected based on what shoppers were looking for most during the pandemic, such as cleaning supplies, OTC medicine, infant formula, medical supplies and paper goods like toilet paper. All categories where Walgreens has seen opportunities in its store brands.

See this article on how Walgreens’ category manager of paper goods on how store brands have found a way into homes and other learnings during the pandemic.

Walgreens said it is unique in its ability to offer drive-thru at some of its locations.

“During this current COVID-19 pandemic, we recognized the need for safe, alternative shopping options that helped promote social distancing,” said Richard Ashworth, president of Walgreens. “As a result, we quickly developed and launched this newest digital service – ordering online and picking up at drive-thru – in a manner of just a few short weeks. Walgreens customers and patients now can shop from the convenience of their own homes and pick-up their purchases on their terms. This is another example of our ongoing commitment to adapt to and meet changing consumer behaviors during these challenging times.”