Key Takeaways

• Major U.S. pharmacy chain Walgreens has resumed selling e-cigarette products in select stores.
• Juul Labs says its products are already in, or will soon enter, approximately 6,000 Walgreens locations.
• Altria-owned NJOY’s official store locator lists multiple Walgreens stores as points of sale.
• Following its acquisition by private equity firm Sycamore Partners, Walgreens has been pursuing cost-cutting measures, and the move is viewed as an effort to expand new revenue streams.
• In 2019, many large retailers removed e-cigarettes from shelves amid concerns over youth usage and health risks.

According to Bloomberg, U.S. pharmacy giant Walgreens has resumed selling e-cigarette products in some of its U.S. stores. Walgreens operates nearly 8,000 stores nationwide.

Several unnamed employees said that related products began appearing on shelves in certain locations earlier this year. A spokesperson for Juul Labs stated that Juul products are currently available in, or will soon be rolled out to, approximately 6,000 Walgreens stores.

At the same time, the store locator on the official website of NJOY—an e-cigarette brand owned by Altria Group—also lists Walgreens locations in areas such as Washington, D.C., Chicago (Illinois), and Seattle (Washington) as retail outlets. Altria declined to comment on the matter.

Bloomberg noted that this development represents one of the latest initiatives following Walgreens’ acquisition by its new owner.

On March 6, 2025, Walgreens announced that it had reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners in a deal valued at approximately $10 billion, including debt, taking the company private. Sycamore has been focused on reducing Walgreens’ operating costs. The company has already implemented layoffs and eliminated certain paid employee benefits. Resuming e-cigarette sales is widely viewed as a move to open up a new revenue source.

A Walgreens spokesperson said that, as a retailer, the company offers a variety of products chosen by adult consumers and continuously evaluates its product assortment. The updated merchandise mix will include “compliant products” to align with consumer preferences. Sycamore Partners declined to comment.

Walgreens, along with retailers such as Walmart and Kroger, removed e-cigarettes from its shelves in 2019 due to concerns over their popularity among minors and potential health risks. According to market data, CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens are the two largest pharmacy chains in the United States, operating nearly 9,000 and approximately 8,000 stores nationwide, respectively.

However, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized certain e-cigarette products since 2021, some major retailers have adjusted their stance toward selling FDA-approved products.

The largest traditional grocery chain in the U.S., Kroger, said it began selling FDA-authorized e-cigarettes and related products in November 2023. Pharmacy chain CVS stated that it does not sell e-cigarettes and that it stopped selling all tobacco products in 2014. Walmart also said it does not sell e-cigarettes and has stopped selling conventional cigarettes in some stores in recent years.

According to information from the Walgreens official website, Walgreens is a leading U.S. pharmacy and healthcare retail company with a nationwide network covering all states. As of 2025, it operates approximately 8,700 stores, offering prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, health products, personal care items, and convenience goods.

Image source: Bloomberg