Walgreens Expands Same-Day, 24-Hour Delivery

• Walgreens has expanded 24-hour, same-day delivery to nearly 400 locations in the U.S.
• The service is now available in all but 10 states. 
• The retailer said some 27,000 products are available for delivery that can arrive in less than an hour. 

Walgreens has expanded its anytime same-day delivery service across the U.S. to nearly 400 stores. 

According to a Dec. 1 release, the expansion means Walgreens shoppers in markets across the country can order from an assortment of 27,000 products for delivery — sometimes in under an hour — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Consumers can place orders for Walgreens’ offerings that include groceries, over-the-counter medications, personal care items and household essentials. 

Shoppers in areas with a participating store can place orders for same-day delivery from Walgreens’ website and app. The pharmacy chain also offers same-day delivery options for prescriptions, according to the release.

“Walgreens knows that taking care of health and well-being isn’t exclusive to business hours and that needs can pop up at any time of day — that's why we’re always looking for ways to enhance the customer experience with convenient and trusted solutions,” said Stefanie Kruse, Walgreens’ group vice president of digital commerce, in the release. “As the place customers turn to for their last-minute needs, we know they will find value in being able to access the items they need most, no matter the hour, right to their door.”

The retailer said orders placed for same-day delivery would count toward its store loyalty program, myWalgreens. The expanded same-day delivery options are the latest effort by the pharmacy chain to expand options for customers. The retailer in 2020 introduced same-day in-store, curbside and drive-thru pickup for orders, and it started offering same-day delivery in under an hour in 2021, the release said. The retailer in 2020 partnered with DoorDash to furnish same-day delivery and has since partnered with other same-day delivery partners, including Instacart and Uber Eats.

Walgreens is also piloting a program at select stores in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas that promises shoppers in-store pickup in less than 30 minutes. If the store fails to complete the order on time, Walgreens will refund up to $50 for the contents of the customer’s basket, the release said. 

The expanded same-day delivery service is available throughout the U.S. except in: Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming, according to the release.

Order delivery and pickup became increasingly popular among consumers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and these fulfillment options have remained popular even as shoppers return to brick-and-mortar stores. Retailers across sectors continue to expand options for consumers. Beauty retailer Sephora this year, for example, offered same-day delivery in under an hour through a DoorDash partnership. It also launched a same-day unlimited delivery subscription service for $49 annually, Retail Leader previously reported.