Walgreens to close 'underperforming' stores. Will any in Florida be affected?

Walgreens has announced it will "close certain underperforming U.S. stores."

The announcement follows recent announcements of closures from Hooters and Red Lobster.

Tim Wentworth, Walgreens chief executive officer, cited a "challenging retail environment" in the announcement.

Sales have dropped 2.3% compared to the second quarter in 2023, the company said.

Why is Walgreens closing stores?

"We continue to face a difficult operating environment, including persistent pressures on the U.S. consumer and the impact of recent marketplace dynamics which have eroded pharmacy margins," Wentworth said.

"Our results and outlook reflect those headwinds, despite solid performance in both our International and U.S> Healthcare segments.

"Informed by our strategic review, we are focused on improving our core business: retail pharmacy, which is central to the future of healthcare.

"We are addressing critical issues with urgency and working to unlock opportunities for growth. Many of these actions will take time, but I am confident that we have the right team and the right strategy to lead a business turnaround for the Walgreens that our customers and patients need."

Walgreens' 'strategic review update'

Walgreens announced it is:

• Finalizing significant multiyear footprint optimization program to close certain underperforming U.S. stores.
• Launching U.S. Retail Pharmacy action plan to invest in and deliver an improved customer and patient experience across channels.
• Aligning U.S. Pharmacy and Healthcare organizations for enhanced go-to-market capabilities.
• Simplifying and focusing the U.S. Healthcare portfolio.

What stores will Walgreens close?

Walgreens has more than 8,500 locations and has not said how many or which stores will be affected.

Several Walgreen stores across the U.S. have already closed in 2024, according to Usearch.com

How many Walgreens are there in Florida?

There are more than 800 Walgreens stores in 349 Florida cities, the highest number of any state.

Florida makes up approximately 9% of all Walgreens pharmacies locations in the United States, according to Locationscloud.com.

See the full list of Florida stores and locations.