And it hasn't been easy, with regulations, a lack of staff and increased competition. Shoprite has also rolled out pharmacies, although these are not nearly as flashy as Clicks' outlets.

Pick n Pay has also rolled out pharmacies, and will continue to do so despite the current lack of profitability. Even Woolworths dipped a toe in the water with a few trial pharmacies about which nothing else has been heard.

Sadly, all these chain pharmacies meant the death of many owner-pharmacists, who served customers with a view to making them better, but were forced to sell lipsticks and blush as a sideline. But long before big chains muscled in, there was Dischem. And it's going along nicely.

The Bottom Line is edited by Edward West

Source: Business Day

Published courtesy of

[5 May 2008 08:58]

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