Walgreen Sees Green

Walgreen Co. (Deerfield, Ill.) announced a March sales increase of 17.4 percent. Same-store sales for the month rose 12.6 percent.

March pharmacy sales increased 21 percent, while same-store pharmacy sales rose 16.5 percent.

Year to date, the nation’s largest drugstore chain has realized a sales increase of 15.6 percent. Same-store sales are up 11.8 percent.

Walgreen opened 34 stores during March, including three relocations, and closed no stores. As of March 31, 2004, the company operated 4368 drugstores in 44 states and Puerto Rico, versus 4014 a year ago.