Company Profile - Walgreens | Careerbuilder.com

Overview

Walgreens is the nation’s largest and fastest growing drugstore chain and the industry leader in sales, profit and technology use. Our strategy is to be the nation’s most convenient - and most technologically advanced - healthcare retailer.

Headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens is opening 500 stores a year and plans to increase its store count from today’s more than 6,000 to 7,000 stores by 2010. This expansion creates great opportunity for advancement within the company, whether you work in store operations or pharmacy in the 49 states and Puerto Rico where we operate, or information technology or the dozens of other departments at our corporate offices.

Every corner of Walgreens strategy is focused on convenience:

how fast people get into the store or are served in the drive-thru pharmacy
how fast they get out
how easily they find what they came to buy
how well we remind them of what they're forgetting to buy.

Our strategy is designed to give customers back that most precious commodity: time.

An added customer convenience provided by Walgreens is the online pharmacy. Walgreens brings its pharmacy services and health library right to customers’ homes.

Since its founding in 1901, Walgreens has pioneered new drugstore ideas from lunch counters in the early years of the 20th Century to satellite communication in the 1980s and today’s Internet-based network technologies.

Intercom Plus, Walgreens advanced pharmacy computer and workflow system based on Internet technology, allows pharmacists to spend more time counseling patients by assigning administrative tasks to pharmacy technicians. Intercom Plus also provides patients with information sheets that include a picture and description of what the medication looks like - a feature unique to Walgreens. And with Intercom Plus’ exclusive "Touch-Tone Prefills" feature, patients can use an automated phone system to request prescription refills and a pickup time. This information is fed directly into the pharmacy’s work queue without human intervention.

It’s this type of technology use and innovation that has made Walgreens the eighth-largest retailer in the U.S. In FY 2010, Walgreens generated $67.4 billion in annual sales.

Culture

Walgreens is America's best-known, largest-volume, most-trusted pharmacy retailer. We're also one of the nation's largest retailers overall — eighth largest to be exact — and one of its most progressive and successful companies. With 7,000 stores planned by the year 2010, we need exceptional people. So, if you're a motivated, enthusiastic, people-oriented person with a knack for organization and who thrives in the fast-paced world of retail management, we'd like to talk to you. Walgreens' financial success has continued in step with its technical innovations. 2007 marked the 33rd consecutive year of record sales and earnings. The company has paid a dividend in every quarter since 1933 and has raised the dividend for 32 consecutive years. Expansion In fiscal 2007, Walgreens opened 615 new stores, including 115 acquisitions, for an increase after relocations and closings of 531 stores. The company will open 550 stores in fiscal 2008. Walgreens approach differs most notably from its competitors when it comes to growth. Walgreens expansion is fueled by opening new, freestanding locations with drive-thru pharmacies. Though the company is nearly a century old, today half our stores are less than five years old. Our Strategy Walgreens strategy for future store and earnings growth includes five components: - Organic store growth. While we'll consider acquisitions, there's no doubt that organic growth is the superior expansion road. - Market share increases through innovation and execution, such as our online digital photo introduction and technology to assist Medicare Part D prescription patients. - A "nimble elephant." We leverage our size for economy of scale, while reacting quickly to our customers' changing needs. - Healthcare offerings beyond traditional pharmacy. We're an industry leader in this area as we integrate Walgreens Health Services' healthcare offerings with our retail pharmacies. - Attracting and retaining top talent. Our People - Diversity. We are a company that understands we serve our customers and patients best if our workforce reflects the diversity of our world. Core values of dignity and mutual respect are the foundation for providing a workplace that embraces the individuality of all employees and the communities we serve. We recruit service-oriented, skilled and diverse individuals so that our patients and customers find the experience they expect in our stores. - Special needs. Walgreens is leading the industry in designing our warehouses to accommodate workers with mental retardation, autism and other cognitive disabilities, as well as workers with physical disabilities. We've launched this new design at the Anderson, S.C., distribution center, which opened in 2007, with special-needs residents filling about one third of the initial 450 jobs. Saving Time An added customer convenience provided by Walgreens is the online pharmacy, bringing pharmacy services and health information right to customers' homes. Photo customers can upload photos online to Walgreens Photo Center for printing at your local store - or at any Walgreens in the country - with pickup in an hour. It's ideal for sending prints to grandparents. Touch-tone and online prescription refills, 24-hour stores, flu shots, cash machines, phone cards, clerk-served cosmetics and photo departments, rebate booklets, week-long ad prices . . . all are designed to give customers back that most precious commodity: time. Walgreens Health Services Walgreens Health Services (WHS) is a division of the Walgreen Company, The Pharmacy America Trusts. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, WHS is a multifaceted healthcare company offering a range of products and services. Our integrated approach to pharmacy services includes: Home Care Services, Pharmacy Benefit Management, Mail Service, and Specialty Pharmacy. In addition to Walgreens stores, we offer clients a nationwide retail network of more than 54,000 pharmacies. Careers at Walgreens Health Services exist on a multitude of levels. From sales to operations and clinical pharmacy to marketing, an exciting opportunity could be awaiting you! See more under the Walgreens Health Services Web Site at: www.walgreenshealth.com

Benefits

At Walgreens, we believe in taking care of America's families. The families of our employees are no exception, which is why, in addition to competitive salaries, Walgreens offers one of the most comprehensive benefits programs in our industry. So, while you're working for Walgreens, we're working hard for you, with exceptional benefits designed to... Take care of you and your family Medical and Dental Insurance Comprehensive health and dental plans are available to employees for themselves and their dependents. Employees may also choose to enroll in a company-sponsored HMO (for themselves and their families). Prescription Discount Covered prescriptions are available to employees for a minimal co-pay; co-pay coverage for dependents is also available. Employee Discount Employees and their immediate family are entitled to a 15% discount on purchases at any Walgreens store. Protect your future Financial and retirement benefits are available for employees and their families. Profit Sharing, Employee Stock Purchase, Flex Pay, and Personal Accident Insurance are a few of the examples. On-site Childcare at our Corporate Headquarters Our licensed facility and highly-trained staff provide quality childcare at competitive tuition rates for children ages six weeks through six years. This benefit is available to parents who work at the Deerfield or Mt. Prospect offices. Create a rewarding career Promoting from within We strongly believe in promoting from within our company. Many of our key executives rose through our ranks and we are committed to giving you the same opportunity to excel and grow. Make life more convenient Rideshare and train shuttle Our corporate headquarters is conveniently located near the Metra, Chicago's suburban train. Free shuttle service to and from the Lake Cook and Braeside Metra stops makes commuting easy. Many of our employees also use the convenience of rideshare and take advantage of reserved parking. On-site store Our Deerfield office includes an on-site Walgreens fully stocked with the items you need, from snacks to Hallmark cards to over-the-counter medicines. And, use the photo service to have your film developed. Other conveniences found on the Walgreens corporate campus: - Check cashing service - ATM - Cafeteria - Mail service - Dry cleaning drop off/pick up

Career Opportunities

Fortune magazine America’s Most Admired Companies (published March 17, 2008)
Walgreens ranked No. 5 among food and drugstores and is listed for the 15th consecutive year.

Fortune magazine Global Most Admired Companies (published March 17, 2008)
Walgreens ranked No. 7 among food and drugstores and 36th among the 50 most admired companies.

Fortune magazine 500 Largest U.S.-Based Companies (published May 5, 2008)
Walgreens ranked 40th overall in revenue, 3rd among food and drugstores.

Fortune magazine 40 Best Stocks To Retire On (published June 23, 2008)
Walgreens made the list of recommended Bargain Growth stocks.

Fortune magazine Global 500 Largest Companies (published July 23, 2007)
Walgreens ranked 129th overall in revenue.

Forbes Platinum 400 List (published December 20, 2007)
Walgreens again made this list of the best performing big companies in the U.S.

Forbes Global 2000 (published April 21, 2008)
Walgreens ranked 250th on this list of the 2000 largest public companies worldwide.

Fast Company magazine Human Impact & Profit (HIP) Scorecard (published April 2007)
Walgreens was one of 21 companies profiled for its sustainable performance and management approach that drives the health and wealth of customers and employees, environmental quality and social equality.

Diversity/Careers magazine (published June/July 2008)
Walgreens was again named a Best Diversity Company in the publication's second Reader's Choice survey.

CAREERS & the disABLED magazine Top 50 Employers (published Winter 2007/2008)
Walgreens ranked 6th in the readers survey of employers they believe provide the most positive working environment for people with disabilities.

CollegeGrad.com Top 500 Entry Level Employers for 2008 (published January 2008)
Walgreens ranked 3rd on this list with a projection of nearly 6,000 new entry level hires during 2008.

CollegeGrad.com Top 200 Intern Employers for 2008 (published February 2008)
Walgreens ranked 1st on this list with a projection of 7,350 new intern hires during 2008.

The Black Collegian magazine’s 100 Top Employers for the Class of ’08 (published February 2008)
Walgreens ranked No. 2 on this list of top employers for African-American college grads.

Moody's
Walgreens current rating is A1.

Standard and Poor's
Walgreens current rating is A+.

10-Year Walgreen Stock Performance
On June 30, 1998, 100 shares of Walgreen stock sold for $4,131. Ten years later, on June 30, 2008; those 100 shares, having split once, were 200 shares worth $6,502 for a gain of 57%.

Vision

Walgreens Mission Statement:
We will treat each other with respect and dignity and do the same for all we serve.

We will offer employees of all backgrounds a place to build careers.

We will provide the most convenient access to healthcare services and consumer goods in America.

We will earn the trust of our customers and build shareholder value.

Diversity

At Walgreens, we understand that we serve our customers and patients best if our workforce and suppliers reflect the diversity of our communities. Core values of dignity and mutual respect are the foundation for providing a workplace that supports the individuality of all our employees, who come from a variety of cultures, lifestyles, abilities, and backgrounds. The differences our people bring to work each day make our company a better place to work…and our stores a better place to shop. We’re proud of who we are, where we’ve come from and where we’re headed. And we invite you to join us.

diversity.walgreens.com