WALGREEN EXPANDS PHARMACY MAIL

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co., here, will increase its daily mail service capacity with the acquisition of Certifax Pharmacy Services, Beaverton, Ore., the drugstore operator said last week.

the company. "We are aggressively moving forward with our growth objectives for our mail service operations." Covering more than 1.5 million people, according to the drug retailer, the Certifax mail service pharmacy site will offer access to an area of the country Walgreens has targeted for expansion.

Walgreens Healthcare Plus acquired only selected assets of Certifax, the company said, and terms of the deal were not disclosed. The subsidiary provides pharmacy benefit management services, mail service pharmacy, clinical services and home-care products and services.

Walgreens will continue to use the Certifax trademark and logo in labeling and packaging. The retailer operates 2,821 stores in 39 states and Puerto Rico, and plans to have 3,000 stores in the year 2000 and 6,000 stores by 2010.