Walgreens and BJ's Take Private Label Coffee to New Heights

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January 10, 2012

Walgreens today opened a new store unlike any in the chain complete with a coffee bar brewing its State & Randolph store brands coffee.

Located on the corner of State and Randolph streets in Chicago’s Loop, this marks a return to the landmark location of 151 N. State Street for Walgreens, which operated a store at this corner from 1926 to 2005. The original location was demolished to make way for a multi-story building, which now houses a two-story 27,000-square-foot Walgreens store that is showcasing the chain’s newest programs.

The store's expanded features include The Upmarket Cafe with barista prepared fresh brewed premium coffee, including the exclusive State & Randolph brand. A range of fresh baked breads and pastries also are served daily.

Other store feature include a juice bar and fountain for made-to-order smoothies and milkshakes, self-serve frozen frozen yogurt, fresh hand-rolled sushi and sashimi prepared daily, and hundreds of fresh food items including produce and on-the-go meal options such as wraps, sandwiches and salads. The store also features a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine capable of dispensing 130 varieties of Coca-Cola fountain drinks A selection of more than 700 wines positioned to pair with artisan cheeses and an assortment of specialty meats and chocolates are also featured.

The store also boasts a “LOOK Boutique” beauty department featuring dozens of prestige and niche cosmetic, skincare and hair care brands not typically found in drugstores and staffed with trained beauty advisors. And a nail bar offers professional manicures, and eyebrow shaping and other grooming services.

"This unique urban retailing concept raises the bar for drugstore retailing and sets us apart in our industry," said Joe Magnacca, Walgreens president of daily living products and solutions. "As we transform from a traditional drugstore to a retail health and daily living destination, this store demonstrates how we are a central part of life for many who live and work in this dynamic and thriving community."

BJ’s Premium Packaging
BJ’s Wholesale Club is replacing its private label Berkley & Jensen 100% Colombian ground coffee with the new, flexible Fres Bag. Designed by coffee packaging innovator Fres-co, the Fres Bag will help BJ’s significantly reduce the cost of materials while the bag’s one-way degassing valve will deliver a fresher, more flavorful brew, according to the company.

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