Walgreens Introduces New York’s DR Delish Brand of Premium Snacks and Beverages to Stores Across the Country

Display features 10 items of the popular private brand line from recently acquired Duane Reade Drugstores

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)(NASDAQ: WAG) is bringing a bite of the Big Apple to its stores across the country as it begins offering the DR (Duane Reade) Delish™ line of premium snacks and beverages.

“Our plan is to expand the selection available at Walgreens in the coming months.”

Pronounced like the first two syllables of “delicious,” this high quality private brand has been a hit with New Yorkers since it debuted at Duane Reade drugstores last September. Walgreens acquired the brand as part of its purchase of Duane Reade in April.

“Introducing the DR Delish line of products in our stores is one of the first big steps toward bringing the best of Duane Reade to Walgreens,” said Bryan Pugh, vice president of merchandising for Walgreens. “The DR Delish brand allows us to offer our customers snacks and beverages with premium recipes but at more affordable prices.” The DR Delish snacks and beverages will sell at prices below the leading national brands.

The DR Delish brand launched at Duane Reade with 25 items last fall and quickly developed a strong following among New Yorkers as it grew to more than 100 items by the end of last year. Many of the products offer healthy benefits such as trans-fat free, gluten-free, reduced-calorie or made with natural ingredients.

Walgreens stores will start with 10 DR Delish products now featured on an end cap display that hit more than 6,000 stores this week. Other DR Delish products will be rotated in or added to shelves in fall.

The initial products consumers will see on the end cap will range from $2.99 to $7.49 and include:

• Trail Mix Blueberry Pomegranate Crunch
• Trail Mix Mango Crunch
• Trail Mix Pistachio Crunch
• "Broadway" Chocolate Chip Cookie
• "Broadway" Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookie
• "Broadway" Chocolate Chip with Pecan Cookie
• "Broadway" Raisin Oatmeal Cookie
• Pretzel Rod Tub
• Gallon Teas - Green Tea with Ginsing + Honey
• Gallon Teas - Sweet Tea

“These were among the most popular DR Delish products in the New York market, so we’re confident they’ll be a hit with our customers nationwide,” Pugh said. “Our plan is to expand the selection available at Walgreens in the coming months.”

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2009 sales of $63 billion. The company operates 7,545 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility, long-term care and mail service, along with pharmacy benefit solutions and respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Walgreens Take Care Health Systems subsidiary is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.