Are you planning to pick up a few products while you are out and about? If you are exploring a different part of the United States, finding the store you want can be tricky.
Fortunately, there are more than 10,000 branches of CVS located throughout the United States, so there is likely to be one nearby. However, if you are unable to find a branch of this pharmacy chain, you will need to choose another option. Several major pharmacy chains offer the same types of products and comparable prices.
So, let’s take a look at some of the biggest CVS competitors and what they have to offer.
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The CVS’s Main Competition
CVS is the largest pharmacy retail chain in the United States, and this is a popular place to fulfill prescriptions. However, several other contenders for the crown have emerged in recent years. Let’s take a closer look at CVS Pharmacy’s largest rivals and what they have to offer.
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Walgreens
This chain of pharmacies is owned by the Walgreens Boots Alliance and is the company’s main rival. When you visit a shopping district, you will often see the two stores located close to each other. Walgreen’s revenue was $139.5 billion in 2020, with $88.6 billion coming from prescriptions.
Although there are fewer stores in the United States, Walgreens has a significant international presence. There are more than 13,000 stores located in a total of eleven markets. The pharmacy chain’s biggest international market is the United Kingdom, where there are more than two thousand stores. However, these pharmacy stores operate simply under the name Boots.
Read more: What is CVS CarePass?
Rite Aid
This drugstore chain was founded in 1962 and boasts more than 2,400 locations in seventeen different states. The company is a trusted provider of both healthcare products and prescriptions. The company’s total revenue in 2020 was $21.9 billion, with prescription revenue comprising half of this.
Walmart Pharmacy
Walmart is one of the most popular discount retail companies in the United States, and Walmart Pharmacy is becoming increasingly popular. The company offers a generic prescription program where thousands of different medications are available for under $4. There are also flexible options, including a 90-day supply of medication for $10.
This has helped the company to rise to become one of the most popular pharmacy chains in the United States. In 2020 alone, the company gained a prescription revenue of more than $21.5 billion. Walmart membership also entitles members to receive a whole host of deals and discounts on their shopping.
Costco
This is another wholesale club that offers shoppers impressive deals and discounts. There are more than 550 Costco warehouses located throughout the United States. The company is known for offering a wide range of health and wellness products as well as prescriptions. The company’s estimated revenue from prescription services in 2020 was $2.7 billion.
Cigna
Originally known as Express Scripts, this is the leading chain of specialty and mail-in pharmacies in the United States. More than 49,000 stores can be found scattered throughout the country. The company gained a prescription revenue of $49.9 billion in 2020, which is just under 9% higher than the previous year.
Kroger
This popular grocery store chain boasts more than 2,200 pharmacy locations across the United States. Many of these locations come with fully equipped clinics that provide healthcare services. This allows shoppers to combine two chores and save both time and money.
Kroger’s prescription drug program provides low-cost medicine supplements to customers from all walks of life. In 2020, Kroger pharmacy received $15.1 billion in revenue from its specialty and regular pharmacy services.
Publix
This supermarket chain has a strong reputation for its customer service and in-store pharmacies. Nearly all locations feature a pharmacy that offers a low-cost prescription drug program. Shoppers can receive 90-day supplies of the most common medications for just $7.50. In 2020, this commitment to value helped the company make more than $4 billion in revenue from prescriptions.
Albertsons
This grocery chain boasts more than 1,700 pharmacies across the United States and is committed to low prices. Pharmacies are located in all the company’s grocery stores, and medication rates are suitable for people on a tight budget. In 2020, Albertsons received a prescription sales revenue of more than $5 billion.
H-E-B
This supermarket chain boasts more than three hundred pharmacy locations in the United States. The company is committed to delivering excellent customer service, which has driven its success over the years. In 2020, the company’s prescription revenue exceeded $1.8 billion.
Humana Pharmacy Solutions
This company offers a whole host of on-site pharmacy services as well as prescriptions. As a bonus, customers can arrange for their prescriptions to be delivered to their door. This service helped Humana Pharmacy Solutions earn a prescription revenue of $7.9 billion in 2020.
Biggest CVS Competitors – The Reasons To Shop At CVS
Even though the company has a lot of competition, it still manages to attract a large number of customers. Part of the reason for this is the special deals the company offers on certain types of products. Here are some of the types of products you should pick up the next time you visit a store.
Laundry detergent
The company offers regular deals and discounts on all of the biggest laundry detergent brands. Coupons are regularly released for laundry detergent, and these coupons can be combined with ExtraCare rewards points. At certain times of the year, you can pick up a 40-ounce bottle of this product for under $1.
Deodorant
There’s no need to be stinky when you shop at this pharmacy chain. If your timing is good and you have the right coupons, you can pick up brand-name deodorant for under $1. You may even find that deodorant is offered as a freebie when you purchase certain other products.
CVS Health-brand pain medication
Customers can receive great deals on the medications that the parent company manufactures. One of the best deals is on the company’s own brand of ibuprofen, which is known for being very effective. It is available for just 14.3 cents per tablet, compared to an average of 26.2 cents per tablet for Tylenol.
Makeup
The company offers great discounts on a range of cosmetics. Shoppers can combine their ExtraCare card and coupons to save even more on special deals. If your timing is right, you could save up to 67% on selected products.
Toothpaste
The company regularly releases coupons for savings on different brands of toothpaste. At some times of the year, you may be able to pick up a tube or two free of charge. Other deals on this essential product include store rebates.
Canned soup
Soup may not be the obvious thing to visit the pharmacy for, but you are sure to get a good deal. There are regular stock-up deals on major brands such as Campbell’s Well Yes! And Progresso. If you get lucky, you may be able to pick up a few cans of soup for just 25 cents each.
Seasonal snacks and candy
If you have a sweet tooth, make sure you visit a store the day after a major holiday. The day after Valentine’s Day is a great time to score discounts on candy and chocolates. Other good times to scoop up sweet deals are the days after Christmas, Halloween, and Mother’s Day.
Peanut butter
This kitchen staple is generally available at a low price when you shop with the company. While deals vary, the standard price on certain brands is always low. You are sure to find that you can scoop up a jar of peanut butter for 30 cents less than at Walgreens.
Gift cards
Purchasing a $20 gift card from one of the company’s stores gives you more bang for your bucks. While the gift card is still valued at $20, shoppers also receive reward points that secure discounts on future purchases. This means that you also get a treat when you purchase a gift card for someone special.
More About The Great Pharmacy Chain!
Firstly, why not work for CVS pharmacy? You can start by learning more about them with my CVS Caremark Mission And Vision Statement Analysis, followed by our in-depth guide to the CVS Pharmacy Application, and if need be, check out Does CVS Run Background Checks if you have a criminal record.
Before you apply, depending on your age, you might need to find out Can Teens Work at CVS Pharmacy, as well as How Old Do You Have To Be To Work At CVS, plus How Much Does CVS Pay if you were wondering about your rates and hours.
Perhaps you’d like to apply at more than one pharmacy, then take a look at our guides to the Shoppers Drug Mart Application, the Smiths Food And Drug Application, the Longs Drugs Application, and finally, the Rite Aid Application, along with the most commonly asked Rite Aid Interview Questions in 2023.
Final Thoughts
With its excellent prices and product range, it is not surprising that millions of people are loyal to CVS. The pharmacy chain is a subsidiary of CVS Health, meaning that you can find great deals on medication. The company’s stores also offer regular deals and discounts on a range of products to attract new customers.
However, if you are unable to find a branch near you, there are plenty of other options. Depending on your needs, you are likely to find that some of these companies are better than others. Even though there is so much competition, no company can match CVS’s impressive revenue from prescriptions.
Enjoy shopping at your local CVS Pharmacy!
