Chemist Warehouse
Chemist Warehouse (or Chemist Warehouse Group) is an Australian company operating a chain of retail pharmacies. The company is Australia's largest pharmacy retailer and employs over 8,000 staff. The company brands itself as offering discounted prices for pharmaceutical goods.[1][2]
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Chemist Warehouse | |
Private | |
Industry | Pharmacy |
Founded | 2000 |
Founder | Jack Gance Sam and Lydia Gance Verrocchi families |
Headquarters | Melbourne |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand |
Key people | Damien Gance |
Products | Pharmacy, health products, supplements, perfume, personal care, baby products, weight loss, cosmetics |
Brands | Chemist Warehouse Chemist Warehouse New Zealand My Chemist My Beauty Spot |
Services | Pharmacy, medicine, perfume, health products, baby products |
Number of employees | 8000 |
Website | www |
![](../I/m/Chemist_Warehouse_Woden_in_September_2013.jpg)
Model
The company has been dubbed "the McDonald's of pharmacy" and uses a complex franchise structure to circumvent Australian regulations that limit how many pharmacies a company can operate in any one area.[3] The company's structure allows it to "control" about 400 pharmacies across Australia, and it makes up about 50 percent of the market share. The business model used by Chemist Warehouse is thought to involve minimal equity investment by individual pharmacists who agree to the trading terms enforced across the group. Individual pharmacists working under the Chemist Warehouse umbrella benefit from the bulk purchasing power that comes with being part of the company.[4]
The company had an estimated revenue of $2.3 billion in 2013-14.[5]
The 2013 Inside Retail Magazine Top 50 Most Powerful Retailers list placed Sam Gance of Chemist Warehouse at number 16.[6]
Radio
The company has ventured into radio, creating the Chemist Warehouse Remix with Australian Radio Network. The radio was publicised as a 'custom built station' for Chemist Warehouse. It is not limited to stores and can be heard via the web, or with a smartphone app.[7]
Critics
The Pharmacy Guild and pharmacists' union have criticised the company, stating its approach threatens both healthcare standards and employment conditions in the industry.[3] It was also being probed by the Fair Work Ombudsman of underpaying almost 6,000 employees totaling more than $3.6 million in outstanding wages.[8]
References
- "Australia's Cheapest Online Pharmacy". www.chemistwarehouse.com.au.
- "The rise (and rise) of Chemist Warehouse". Roy Morgan.
- "It's the Bunnings of pharmacy: How Chemist Warehouse made a motza". www.news.com.au.
- "Chemist Warehouse and the hypocrisy of government rules". www.afr.com. 7 January 2016.
- Jones, Kate (19 March 2014). "Killing off the chemist" – via The Sydney Morning Herald.
- "50 most powerful retailers". www.insideretail.com.au. 15 January 2014.
- "Has Chemist Warehouse got the Mix right? - Truly Deeply - Brand Agency Melbourne". www.trulydeeply.com.au. 14 July 2011.
- Schneiders, Royce Millar, Ben (7 November 2016). "Australia's cheapest chemist? Watchdog probes Chemist Warehouse pay". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2018.