WALGREENS

NEW YORK — Retail-based health clinics, urgent care clinics, telehealth and traditional physicians may be increasingly competing to serve the healthcare needs of Americans but the real winner is the patient, suggests a recent article in The Economist.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday reported March sales of $6.2 billion, an increase of 2.3%. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday announced that walking, running and weight-management goals can be logged and tracked through Steps with Balance Rewards, the retailer's customer loyalty program. Members will receive 20 points per mile, as well as 20 points per day for tracking their weight. Users also can log individual frequent activities that will earn points when recorded. Additionally, members can sync wireless activity trackers such as Fitbit, Withings and BodyMedia to automatically load the number of steps taken — each device linked will earn 250 points.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has picked media-communications firm OMD as its new media planning and buying agency of record, the retail pharmacy chain said.

Walgreens said OMD would be responsible for buying activity related to traditional, multicultural, digital and mobile media planning and buying in the United States, including Puerto Rico.

AURORA, Colo. — A Colorado-based firm will install solar power systems at 22 Walgreens stores in 14 cities in the state over the next few months, under a partnership between the two companies.

Walgreens announced Monday an expansion of its relationship with SolarCity, saying the new power systems would reduce more than 47.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over the next two decades.

Google has officially unveiled its testing program for Google Shopping Express, its new online delivery service in the San Francisco Bay area, signing up with retailers like Target, Walgreens and Raley's to allow customers to receive items directly from store shelves at their homes within a day.

NEW YORK — Google is officially unveiling its testing program for its new online delivery service in the San Francisco Bay area of California, the Internet company said on its website.

Google Shopping Express promises same-day delivery to customers directly from such retailers as Target, Walgreens, Raley's, Toys "R" Us, American Eagle and others.

BOSTON — The Boston Licensing Board will decide whether Walgreens' flagship store at School and Washington streets, expected to open its doors in April, can sell fresh merchandise like sushi, smoothies and coffee around the clock, according to a report published Wednesday by Universal HUB.