Clicks Is Set To Purchase Pick n Pay’s Retail Pharmacy Business
Clicks Is Set To Purchase Pick n Pay’s Retail Pharmacy Business. Listed pharmacy retailer Clicks says it plans to acquire the retail pharmacy business of Pick n Pay, including 25 in-store pharmacies which will be rebranded to Clicks.
Sowetan Live stated that, Clicks is the largest retail pharmacy network in the country and the acquisition will increase its national presence to 632 pharmacies. In terms of the proposed transaction, Clicks will acquire the pharmacy licences and ethical drug stock, while all staff employed in the pharmacies will transfer from Pick n Pay to Clicks.
Vikesh Ramsunder, Chief Executive Officer of Clicks Group, told Business Tech that, “The acquisition of the pharmacy chain from Pick n Pay accelerates our strategy of extending the convenience and accessibility of the Clicks pharmacy network. Currently 50% of the country’s population live within 6 kilometres of a Clicks pharmacy and we aim to improve this over time as we get closer to customers. We welcome the opportunity to bring our experience in retail pharmacy to customers of Pick n Pay.”
New Clicks is a group of healthcare, beauty, music and lifestyle products retail chains and brands based in South Africa, including Clicks pharmacies. The company was founded in Cape Town by Jack Goldin in 1968. In 2003, its stock was listed on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa.
Pick n Pay’s Chief Operating Officer Adrian Naude told Business Tech that, “Pick n Pay has only held a relatively small number of pharmacies over the years. We have recently set out our key strategic objectives in terms of future growth, and these do not include the development of a large pharmacy division. Our main objectives in terms of transferring our pharmacy business have been to ensure that our customers have a seamless transition and maintain the quality of service they have been used to with Pick n Pay, and that our pharmacy staff are looked after.”
