Retail pharmacy competition is intensifying in South Africa as Dis-Chem and Clicks expand loyalty discounts and compete for prescription volumes. Dis-Chem CEO Rui Morais also sees a longer-term threat from Shoprite, whose Checkers Sixty60 app already has millions of customers accustomed to ordering from their phones. Morais expects Shoprite to add medicine delivery eventually. He says pharmacist sign-off requirements and…
Tag: Pharmacy Retail
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Dis-Chem digital platform targets growth
The Dis-Chem digital platform will bring prescription orders and retail purchases together as the group seeks higher spending and further market share gains. Dis-Chem has invested about R240m in rebuilding its digital infrastructure. Its new app aims to connect product searches, prescription submissions, shopping, checkout and fulfilment through one platform. Previously, separate pharmacy and front-shop processes complicated online purchases. CEO…
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Dis-Chem Leadership Succession Ends Saltzman Era
Dis-Chem co-founder Ivan Saltzman has resigned from the pharmacy retailer’s board after 48 years. His departure ends the founding family’s formal representation in the company’s boardroom. The JSE-listed healthcare group said Saltzman stepped down as a non-executive director with effect from 23 July 2026. He retired as an executive director at the end of June. He then briefly served in…
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South Africa Pharmacy Chains Shift Beyond Saturated Suburbs
South Africa’s biggest pharmacy retailers are redesigning how and where they grow. With suburban shopping centres offering fewer new sites, South African pharmacy chains are moving beyond the familiar middle- and upper-income customer base that has fuelled expansion for years. Clicks and Dis-Chem still dominate the dispensary market, but both groups now face a tougher question: where does the next…
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Clicks Group Half-Year Earnings Reveal Solid Profit Growth
Clicks Group has lifted profitability at the halfway stage of its financial year, even as consumers remain under pressure. The retailer said turnover for the six months ended February rose 7.4% to R24.9bn. Headline earnings increased 6.4% to R1.5bn. Headline earnings per share (HEPS) climbed 8.1% to 653 cents. The company said share buybacks over the past 18 months helped…
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Spar’s Pharmacy Expansion Targets Health-Conscious Shoppers
Spar’s pharmacy expansion marks a bold strategic shift by the retail group. They seek to capture a growing market of health-conscious consumers. In a move to diversify beyond groceries and basic medication, Spar is investing in a bespoke wellness concept. This aims to reshape the pharmacy front-shop experience. CEO Angelo Swartz confirmed that modern customers are seeking more than just…