The company will launch the program [image-nocss] featuring products made by African-American vendors throughout the month of February in honor of Black History Month. Walgreens plans to expand the new program to feature products of businesses owned by women, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans at different points throughout the year.
During February, Walgreens will showcase the following African-American produced brands: African Royale Hot Six Oil, Angelica's Cakes, Bronner Brothers Pump It Up! Spritz, Evolve Purse Size Styling Brush, High Time Bump Stopper-2 Razor Bump Treatment, Jamaican Mango & Lime Locking Gel, Luster's Pink Oil Moisturizer, Mix Match Gourmet Popcorn, Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil No-Lye Relaxer Kit, Pepsom Sports Epsom Salt, Porcelana Night Skin Lightening Cream, Reggio's Pizza, Rejuvenizer Diabetic Sock, Richard's Ice Cream, Sheenique Relaxer, Stay Smooth No-Bump Gel, Ultra Sheen Relaxer Pack, WavEnforcer Premium Do-Rag and 2010 Black History Calendar.
It will also feature six African American-owned magazinesEbony, Black Enterprise, Jet, The Source, Sister to Sister and Upscale.
On February 5 and 6, select Walgreens locations will host special events featuring products from these vendors. Customers will have the opportunity to try featured products and take home samples.
From personal care, to diabetic needs, to magazines and hair care needs, Walgreens stores reflect the diversity of the neighborhoods they serve, the company said. Diversity is a business imperative for Walgreens and as an active and ever-present economic factor in thousands of communities, the company has long embraced diversitynot only in the people it employs, but also in the array of community-built brands it selects to meet the needs of its broad consumer base.
"Providing a platform such as Community Corner to showcase these vendors creates an opportunity for consumers to instantly influence economic growth in their communities," said director of supplier diversity, Gleatha Glispie. "Walgreens outreach programs foster an environment that enhances the development of a diverse group of entrepreneurs. We plan to promote wider vendor participation throughout the year, and in this way, help support the economic base of the communities we serve across our 7,100 stores."
Walgreens expects its Community Corner program to drive awareness for its diverse suppliers in a new, more tangible level in local communities. In addition to promoting these suppliers' products in stores, the company is developing ongoing relationships with community organizations such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council and the National Urban League.
"I congratulate Walgreens on continuing to make supplier diversity an essential business strategy even as many have scaled back efforts in this tight economy," said National Minority Supplier Development Council president Harriet R. Michel. "Giving shoppers the ability to identify and support diverse business is an innovative approach that I believe can have a lasting impact on the growth and continued success of these companies."
Click herefor more information on the Community Corner initiative.
Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens, with fiscal 2009 sales of $63 billion, operates 7,149 drug stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It also has more than 700 in-store convenient care clinics throughout the country.
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