White Mart
| Thrifty White Logo | |
| Company type | Privately held (Employee-owned) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1884 (originally as White Drug) |
| Headquarters | Plymouth, Minnesota |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Retail - Pharmacy |
Number of employees | 1800+ |
| Website | www.thriftywhite.com |
Thrifty White Pharmacy, also recognized as White Drug and Thrifty Drug, is a U.S.-based pharmacy chain operating across six states: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Its corporate headquarters are situated in Plymouth, Minnesota. The company’s core services include prescription dispensing, long-term care consulting, community engagement, and specialty pharmacy offerings. As of September 2016, Thrifty White earned full accreditation from URAC for its specialty pharmacy services.
History
The original White Drug store was established in 1884 in Jamestown, North Dakota by H.E. White and his wife. By the time it merged with Thrifty Drug in 1985, the White Drug network had expanded to 38 locations. Thrifty Drug began operations in 1957 in Brainerd, Minnesota, founded by Douglas Stark, Jack Lindoo, and Edward Olsen. The merger of White Drug and Thrifty Drug in 1985 resulted in the formation of Thrifty White Drugstores.
White Mart
White Mart functioned as a discount department store chain primarily serving Minnesota and the Dakotas. Following the merger, Thrifty White gradually closed all White Mart outlets, with the last stores shutting down during the early 1990s.
Thrifty White today
Currently an employee-owned company, Thrifty White runs a total of 96 pharmacies under the White Drug and Thrifty White Drug brands. Additionally, 82 independently owned retailers operate their own pharmacies while utilizing Thrifty White’s systems and contractual agreements. These pharmacies are commonly located within shopping centers or strip malls. Most Thrifty White locations stock a broad assortment of products typical of retail drugstores, including household essentials, greeting cards, beauty products, and an extensive gift selection. A standard store also features a full-service One Hour Photo Lab.
The majority of Thrifty White pharmacies serve smaller communities with populations below 60,000 and often represent the sole pharmacy option within those municipalities.
In collaboration with North Dakota State University, Thrifty White launched an instructional pharmacy designed to provide students with hands-on experience in retail pharmacy operations. This concept allows students to engage directly with pharmacist responsibilities within an educational environment.
Thrifty White operates eight Telepharmacy locations situated in rural areas where pharmacist access is limited. Since their introduction in 2003, these outlets enable pharmacists to oversee prescription filling and approval remotely via audio/video technology in partnership with trained technicians. These telepharmacies also deliver services such as MTM and patient counseling.
In 2013, Thrifty White expanded its digital presence by acquiring TheOnlineDrugstore.
By 2016, the company achieved full specialty pharmacy accreditation from URAC valid through 2019, enabling it to provide specialty medications and services nationwide across all fifty states. It reports medication adherence rates exceeding 93% among specialty patients.
Thrifty White earned recognition as the national "Pharmacy Innovator of the Year" from Drug Store News in 2016 and previously received a similar honor from Chain Drug Review in 2012. The company was also ranked "#1 in Medication Therapy Management" by Mirixa and named "Most Innovative" by Outcomes in the same year. Its Medication Synchronization program boasts enrollment of approximately 65,000 patients and leads the nation in medication adherence metrics.
In April 2021, Thrifty White partnered with Upsher-Smith to offer a complimentary on-site COVID-19 vaccination clinic administering the Moderna vaccine according to recommended dosing schedules.