Walgreens Launches 24/7 Same-Day Delivery From Stores

Walgreens announced on Thursday a 24/7 delivery service, offering delivery from nearly 400 stores in as little as an hour. Participating 24-hour Walgreens stores will offer more than 27,000 items, from groceries to over-the-counter medications to household essentials like toothbrushes and skincare products. The new service does comes with some exceptions, most notably around the delivery time. The pharmacy chain noted that one-hour delivery is available daily between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. when customers order $35 or more before taxes and after promotions. Walgreens employees will pick and pack the orders, but they will be delivered by DoorDash or Uber Eats drivers.

Total Retail's Take: Walgreens is trying to differentiate itself from others in the pharmacy and health and wellness sector, becoming the first such retailer to offer round-the-clock delivery service with as many items available for purchase as it has. What the market is for round-the-clock deliveries remains to be seen. For one, given Walgreens extensive physical footprint, most consumers are within easy driving distance of a store location. Two, will the $35 minimum order for one-hour delivery limit its appeal for a customer in need of over-the-counter cold medication or a toothbrush and toothpaste at 2 a.m.? The good news for consumers is Walgreens is making that option available.