Overview

• Walgreens partnered with Cooler Screens Inc. in 2019 to replace traditional refrigerator doors with digital smart screens aimed at enhancing customer engagement and generating ad revenue.
• The screens suffered from widespread technical issues, including malfunctioning displays, incorrect product information, and frequent outages, frustrating customers and staff alike.
• Cooler Screens sued Walgreens for $200 million in June 2023, accusing the retailer of breaching their 10-year contract by attempting to terminate it early due to dissatisfaction with the technology.
• Tensions escalated in December 2023 when Cooler Screens cut data feeds to over 100 Walgreens stores, leaving the screens blacked out and disrupting customer experience during the holiday season.
• Walgreens has since removed the screens from all its stores, citing unmet contractual obligations, while Cooler Screens shifts its focus to software partnerships with other retailers like Kroger and Chevron.