Pharmacy Daily | Blooms grows in Sydney

BLOOMS The Chemist is continuing its expansion with the addition of three new pharmacies in the Sydney suburbs of Crows Nest, Gladesville and Penrith.

Welcoming the stores to the Blooms network, CEO, Emmanuel Vavoulas, said the group was "delighted" to be expanding its presence in Sydney.

"Each of these new stores will ensure we continue to contribute to the ever-changing healthcare landscape, supporting and enabling our pharmacists to thrive as they serve and improve the health outcomes of their local communities," he said.

Opening Blooms The Chemist Penrith High Street, owner and former Blooms Bankstown team member, Eman Khaled, said his experience was an example of the network's ownership pathways delivering opportunities for pharmacists who want to become proprietors.

"My parents, who migrated to Australia from Lebanon, always motivated me to follow my dreams," he said.

"Once I started in pharmacy it was clear this was the right career for me, and to achieve my dream of pharmacy ownership at this point in my life is exciting, with everyone at Blooms The Chemist very supportive in helping me fulfil that goal."

Blooms The Chemist Gladesville owner, Abboud Hannaoui, said the decision to join the group was an important step for the local area.

"I have been a pharmacist in Gladesville for many years and know firsthand the important role we play in our local community, supporting customers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds," he said.

"In joining Blooms The Chemist, we will further cement our role assisting our customers on a range of health matters, and bring expanded services and greater value into the pharmacy."

Opening the Crows Nest store, local State MP, Tim James, welcomed Blooms' investment in the pharmacy.

"We thank Blooms The Chemist for investing in an existing business and help make it even better and everything our community would want to see in a modern fantastic community pharmacy," he said.

"The opening comes at a very exciting time, as we all know from the past experiences of COVID, just how hard community pharmacists have worked and how much you have stepped up, delivered, and made sacrifices, as well as the extraordinary contributions to our community and our country."