Reasons to Read

With the drugstore retail sector evolving in the face of digital disruption, we explore how two traditional pharmacy chains—CVS and Walgreens—are responding to competition from e-pharmacy startups and other online rivals. We discuss a number of key strategies that the two companies are implementing to expand their offerings:

• Embracing retail heathcare
• Refreshing and redesigning beauty spaces
• Launching subscription loyalty programs
• Entering into strategic partnerships, such as with Kroger and Target

We also look at some of the online startups that are disrupting the pharmacy retail market, as well as the potential privatization of Walgreens.

The appendix includes four timelines of key events for CVS and Walgreens across healthcare and beauty.