--- title: "Walgreens’ Ad Screens on Drink Fridges Allegedly Caught Fire" description: "Walgreens' experimental rollout of those ad-covered refrigerator screens has disintegrated into legal chaos." date: "2023-10-04" modified: "2023-10-04" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/walgreens-ad-screens-fridges" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "advertising" - "lawsuits" - "retail" - "the digest" --- # Walgreens’ Ad Screens on Drink Fridges Allegedly Caught Fire ![Walgreens' experimental rollout of those ad-covered refrigerator screens has disintegrated into legal chaos.]() *\Image: Cooler Screens\* ## Uncool Screens Walgreens' experimental use of ad-ridden refrigerator screens — you know, the digital screens that, between advertisements, digitally show you whether there's any Diet Coke left in the case, as opposed to the conventional clear refrigerator door, which allows you to simply see the Diet Coke stock for yourself — has disintegrated into chaos. The maker of the tech, dubbed Cooler Screens, sued Walgreens back in June over an alleged breach of contract; according to Cooler Screens, [as *Winsight Grocery Business* reported at the time](), Walgreens committed to a national rollout of the roided-out door replacements before ending its contract ahead of schedule. Walgreens has defended its decision to terminate the deal, and according to [new reporting from *The Wall Street Journal*](), the two entities are now headed to court, with court documents filed on behalf of the pharmacy alleging that Cooler Screens' technology didn't really work — and even, on occasion, caught fire. Oops! ## Sparks Fly Per the *WSJ*, the court documents detail a number of alleged technical failures of the screens, including failures to show the right products, correct prices, or accurate out-of-stock displays. The screens were also said to sometimes go "dark," obstructing customers' views completely. The most damning accusation, however, is the claim that some Cooler Screens doors "even sparked and caught fire," as the *WSJ* report reads. That's pretty concerning, and we're sure the ad revenue that may have been gleaned from Cooler Screens' disorienting displays wasn't quite worth the damage to people, property, and stock that any screen-induced fires might potentially cause. Cooler Screens, however, has argued that the fires and other failures were the result of Walgreens' own "outdated and poorly maintained electrical system," as the tech venture [told *Insider*]() in a statement. Also speaking to *Insider*, Cooler Screens alleged that Walgreens' recently-departed former CEO Roz Brewer, who left the company in September, "simply didn't like the appearance of the doors," and "when she realized that her opinion on how the doors looked was not enough to get out of the contract Walgreens had entered into with Cooler Screens, she and her team began to fabricate excuses." It's also worth noting that the lawsuit is a bit of a messy family drama as well, considering that one of Cooler Screens' cofounders, Gregory Wasson, formerly held the chief executive role at — surprise! — Walgreens. In any case, if you find yourself near a Cooler Screen anytime soon, be wary of any stray sparks. **More on lawsuits:** [*Suing Writers Seethe at OpenAI's Excuses in Court*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()