WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) — FedEx and Walgreens have announced a partnership that will allow the shipping giant to drop off packages at the pharmacy’s stores where customers can pick them up.
The “long-term alliance” between FedEx and Walgreens will offer “convenient access to FedEx dropoff and pickup services at thousands of Walgreens locations across the United States beginning within the next several months,” the companies said in a joint statement.
“Walgreens, with its strong focus on customer care, is the perfect retailer to help us continue to meet the growing demand for convenient, secure dropoff and pickup options,” FedEx Executive Vice President Raj Subramaniam said in a statement.
“The addition of Walgreens locations to the existing network of FedEx retail offerings will substantially increase customer access to staffed pickup and dropoff locations and enhance convenient access to FedEx Ground and FedEx Express package shipment and dropoff options.”
The companies did not disclose any financial terms related to the joint effort, which could increase shopper traffic in the store and reduce failed FedEx deliveries.
The program will start on a small scale in the spring but the companies anticipate it will be available at thousands of Walgreens locations by late 2017 and nearly 8,000 Walgreens stores by fall 2018.
FedEx rival UPS rolled out a similar program at about 8,000 neighborhood convenience and grocery stories in Chicago and New York three years ago, Fortune reported.
