COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 446110

Pharmacies and Drug Stores

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

24companies1916–1985founding years24still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedWalgreen Co.FoundedWalgreen Co.
1916
FoundedCVS Corporation
1922
FoundedSupervalu Inc.FoundedSupervalu Inc.
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedRaley's Inc.
1935
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedAlbertson's, Inc.FoundedAlbertson's, Inc.FoundedMercury Drug Corporation
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
FoundedRite Aid CorporationFoundedRite Aid Corporation
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedEckerd Corporation
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedAEON Co., Ltd.FoundedAEON Co., Ltd.
1969
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
FoundedUny Co., Ltd.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedFarmacias Ahumada S.A.FoundedFarmacias Ahumada S.A.
1977
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedNeighborCare, Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyAmazon is founded; e-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Walgreen Co. →
Active · founded 1916
Walgreen Co.
Walgreen Co. →
Active · founded 1916
Walgreen Co.
CVS Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Although it trails arch-rival Walgreen Co.
CVS Corporation →
Active · founded 1922
Although it trails arch-rival Walgreen Co.
Supervalu Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Minnesota-based Supervalu Inc.
Supervalu Inc. →
Active · founded 1926
Minnesota-based Supervalu Inc.
Raley's Inc. →
Active · founded 1935
Raley's Inc.
Raley's Inc. →
Active · founded 1935
Raley's Inc.
Albertson's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1945
1950s:Company expands into Washington, Utah, Oregon, and Montana.
Albertson's, Inc. →
Active · founded 1945
1950s:Company expands into Washington, Utah, Oregon, and Montana.
Mercury Drug Corporation →
Active · founded 1945 · Philippines
Mercury Drug Corporation is the Philippines' dominant pharmacy group.
Mercury Drug Corporation →
Active · founded 1945 · Philippines
Mercury Drug Corporation is the Philippines' dominant pharmacy group.
Rite Aid Corporation →
Active · founded 1958
Rite Aid Corporation, which ranks as the third largest retail drugstore chain in the United States, operates about…
Rite Aid Corporation →
Active · founded 1958
Rite Aid Corporation, which ranks as the third largest retail drugstore chain in the United States, operates about…
Eckerd Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Eckerd Corporation operates a chain of about 2,900 drug stores located in 20 states in the Northeast, Southeast, and…
Eckerd Corporation →
Active · founded 1961
Eckerd Corporation operates a chain of about 2,900 drug stores located in 20 states in the Northeast, Southeast, and…
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
AEON Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1969 · Japan
Formerly known as JUSCO AEON Co., Ltd.
Uny Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1971 · Japan
Early 20th century:[fs54]Choju Nishikawaya opens a footwear store in Nudge, the largest city in Chubu.
Uny Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1971 · Japan
Early 20th century:[fs54]Choju Nishikawaya opens a footwear store in Nudge, the largest city in Chubu.
Farmacias Ahumada S.A. →
Active · founded 1977 · Chile
Farmacias Ahumada S.A.
Farmacias Ahumada S.A. →
Active · founded 1977 · Chile
Farmacias Ahumada S.A.
NeighborCare, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
NeighborCare, Inc.
NeighborCare, Inc. →
Active · founded 1985
NeighborCare, Inc.
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