Walgreens Ranked 29th on 2011 InformationWeek 500 List, #1 in Retail – General Merchandising Category

DEERFIELD, Ill., September 14, 2011 - Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) today announced that it ranked 29th on this year’s InformationWeek 500, a list of the top technology innovators in the U.S. Additionally, Walgreens was the highest-ranked company in the retail – general merchandising category. The annual list was unveiled at last night’s InformationWeek 500 conference in California.

This marks the first time that Walgreens has been ranked in the top 30 by the magazine, last year it was ranked 153 overall and third among those in retail – general merchandising.

“This is great recognition for the innovative technology work we’ve done to position Walgreens at the forefront of the changing health care industry,” said Tim Theriault, Walgreens chief information officer. “With an expanding suite of health care services, our IT organization is developing a platform for the future as part of Walgreens mission to be a leading destination for health and daily living needs.”

Walgreens IT team recently began Walgreens 2.0, a multi-year initiative to enhance the company’s technology infrastructure across multiple platforms, including its network of more than 7,700 stores. The project comprises several key components, including:

• New data center – the new center will feature new technology and bring added capacity
• Scalable health care platform – connecting data across the Walgreens network that leverages new technology to support and further the company’s transformation as a leading health and daily living destination

• Next generation store technology – new store applications, technology and point-of-sale systems to enhance customer service and the overall shopping experience for customers

• Internal technology enhancements – e-mail, web conferencing and mobile upgrades to improve productivity and efficiency

InformationWeek identifies and honors the nation’s most innovative users of information technology with its annual 500 listing, and also tracks the technology, strategies, investments and administrative practices of America’s best-known companies. The InformationWeek 500 rankings are unique among corporate rankings as it spotlights the power of innovation in information technology, rather than identifying the largest IT spenders.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,760 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 and mail service, along with 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. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

Walgreens
Jim Cohn, (847) 315-2950
http://news.walgreens.com