Walgreens will use its $9.41 billion takeover of rival Rite Aid to spread its philosophy on making drugstores destinations for customers looking to stay healthy or buy beauty products.
The nation's largest drugstore chain also is expected to flex its beefed-up negotiating muscle to twist better deals from drugmakers and other suppliers. But experts say those discounts won't automatically trickle down to consumers.
Customers, for the most part, may not see a huge impact, beyond some store closures and fewer brand choices after Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. adds the nation's third-largest drugstore chain.
They also may see more clinics in Rite Aid Corp. stores and more products like vitamins and supplements aimed at keeping them healthy, as the sector continues to stretch well beyond simply filling prescriptions.
