Walgreens supports INFORM Consumers Act

Bill introduced by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — In support of the INFORM Consumers Act introduced Thursday in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Walgreens issued the following statement from Alex Gourlay, president of Walgreens:

“The lack of transparency and accountability in today’s digital marketplaces has contributed to the rapid rise of organized retail crime, which

Alex Gourlay

has become one of the top challenges facing the retail industry today. Walgreens strongly supports Congresswoman Schakowsky’s INFORM Consumers Act, which complements the bipartisan Senate bill introduced earlier this year to require online marketplaces to verify high-volume sellers, remove incentives for retail theft and help make our communities safer. Now, more than ever, consumers deserve to know who they are buying products from online, in order to make safe and informed purchasing decisions for themselves and their families.”

Background on Organize Retail Crime (ORC)

Organized retail crime is one of the top challenges facing retailers today. According to a 2019 survey by the National Retail Federation, retailers reported average losses of $700,000 per $1 billion dollars in sales over a 12-month period.¹

Organized retail crime has evolved beyond shoplifting and petty theft to the sale of stolen and counterfeit goods online. The emergence of largely unregulated online marketplaces and third party sellers have given criminals and ORC groups additional means to sell stolen and legitimate good, further eroding retailer’s bottom lines and putting consumers’ safety at risk.

Walgreens believes online marketplaces should be accountable for the activity on their platforms and ensure only legitimate goods are sold by verified sellers.