15 mind-blowing facts about Walgreens

Walgreens was first founded in 1909, although it had a predecessor that launched eight years prior.

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Source: Walgreens

A spokesperson told Business Insider that Walgreens became "the first major chain to put prescriptions into child-resistant containers" in 1968.

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The spokesperson added that the company has a number of other innovations under its belt, including the malted milkshake. This treat was concocted at a Walgreens counter in 1922, according to the spokesperson.

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The chain also introduced the electronic prescription in 1992, also known as Walgreens' "Pre-Scribe software," according to the spokesperson.

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These days, a Walgreens spokesperson told Business Insider that the pharmacy chain "fills more than one prescription from a mobile device" every second.

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In fiscal year 2018, Walgreens filled a total of 1.1 billion prescriptions, adjusted to 30 day equivalents, according to the company's most recent SEC filing.

Source: Walgreens

Six million customers visit Walgreens every day, while two million people check out the company's various "digital properties," according to a spokesperson.

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Walgreens Boots Alliance, the holding company that owns Walgreens, boasts a total of 18,500 stores in 11 countries, as well as 390 distribution centers that cater to 20 countries.

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Source: Walgreens

The holding company operates a total of 9,560 Walgreens and Duane Reade stores in the US ...

Source: Walgreens

... and 4,767 stores outside the US, including the chain stores Boots, Benavides, and Ahumada.

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Source: Walgreens

If you live in the US, you're probably right near a Walgreens. A spokesperson told Business Insider that 78% of the population "lives within five miles" of a Walgreens, a Duane Reade, or a Walgreens-owned Rite Aid store.

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Walgreens Boots Alliance employed over 354,000 people as of August 31, 2018.

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Source: Walgreens

The company also employs "85,000 healthcare service providers, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurse practitioners" and other healthcare providers. These workers are a mix of employees and third-party partners.

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Source: Walgreens

A Walgreens spokesperson told Business Insider that the company "has collected and safely disposed more than 1.2 million pounds of unused or unwanted medications to date."

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A Walgreens spokesperson told Business Insider that, by partnering up with the UN Foundation, the company "has provided more than 34 million life-saving vaccines for children around the world through its 'Get A Shot. Give A Shot.' campaign."

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