Thrifty White
 | |
| Private (Employee-owned) | |
| Founded | 1884 (as White Drug) |
| Headquarters | Plymouth, Minnesota |
| Products | Retail - Pharmacy |
| Website | www.thriftywhite.com |
Thrifty White is an American pharmacy chain with operations in six states, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
History
The first White Drug opened in Jamestown, North Dakota in 1884 by Mr. and Mrs. H.E. White. There were 38 White Drug Stores when it merged with Thrifty Drug in 1985. Thrifty Drug was founded in Brainerd, Minnesota in 1957 by Douglas Stark, Jack Lindoo, and Edward Olsen. White Drug and Thrifty Drug merged in 1985 to form Thrifty White Drugstores.
White Mart
White Mart was chain of discount department stores serving mostly the Dakotas and Minnesota. Shortly after merging, the new Thrifty White began closing all White Mart locations, with the final locations closing in the early 1990s.
Thrifty White today
Thrifty White is an employee owned company. Today, it operates a total of 89 drugstores under the banners White Drug, Thrifty Drug, and Thrifty White Drug. In addition there are 45 Independent Retailers that operate their own pharmacies, but use some of Thrifty White's contracts and support tools. Its locations are typically found inside shopping centers or strip malls. Most Thrifty White stores offer a wide range of items found in the typical retail drugstore including, household items, greeting cards, cosmetics, and a large gift section. A typical Thrifty White also has a full service One Hour Photo Lab. Most of the Thrifty White drugstores are located in small towns with a population of under 60,000, and they are often the only pharmacy within city limits.
Thrifty White has teamed up with North Dakota State University to open a concept pharmacy for students to learn and experience the way of a retail pharmacy. Students are able to practice the duties of a pharmacist within an instructional pharmacy setting.
Thrifty White has eight Telepharmacy Stores located in small communities where access to a pharmacist would not be available. First opened in 2003, these stores allow a pharmacist to communicate through an audio/video feed with a trained technician to fill and approve prescriptions.