Walgreens will be closing what The Wall Street Journal reports will be a “significant share” of its approximately 8,600 U.S. stores.
The Journal report, from an interview with Walgreens Boots Alliance Chief Executive Officer Tim Wentworth, quoted Wentworth as saying Walgreens would close a “meaningful percent” of underperforming stores over the next several years.
Wentworth indicated Walgreens will also be reducing its investment in Village MD, a primary care provider.
“We recognize where we are is a turnaround,” Wentworth said. “We recognize that we need to be focused on what are the parts of the business that we believe are contributing and have a future, and some of those need to change.”
The CEO of the 123-year-old chain, who began his role with Walgreens in October, said “retail pharmacy is central to our future and to our overall customer and patient experience. It enables many other things, but it has to change.”