Procurement Magazine July 2022 | Page 32

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE

Putting

the authenticity into procurement

“WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANT TO WORK FOR SOMEBODY THAT ' S NOT AUTHENTIC ?”

JIM TOWNSEND CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER , WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE
into the company ’ s digital procurement transformation , as well as its overall largescale transformation process , repositioning and renewing procurement , and ensuring success for the company .
WBA ’ s procurement process underscored by company values Though the modern iteration of the company formed back in 2014 when
Walgreens joined forces with Alliance Boots , the cumulative history of WBA adds up to over 170 years .
The journey began in 1849 with John Boot opening the first Boots drugstore in Nottingham , UK . This was followed over 50 years later in 1901 by Charles R . Walgreen Sr purchasing the Chicago , US , drugstore in which he worked as a pharmacist . By 1909 , this drugstore had developed into Walgreens Co , kickstarting the drugstore chain expansion with the opening of a second store . Multiple mergers and developments followed over
32 July 2022