Discount Drug Stores (DDS) has expanded its national footprint, with the wholly owned Sigma offshoot opening its first store in the ACT, in its 15th year of operation.
The 135-strong banner marketing pharmacy chain, which started with its first store opening at Sunnybank in Queensland in 2001, has plans to achieve a total of 150 stores by the end of this year.
DDS gm Douglas Kuskopf-Dallas said, "Our brand recognition, marketing investment, and buying power have allowed us to achieve year-on-year growth in our dollar GP, despite PBS reforms and against a market trend of decline," he said.
"This, combined with our other business support services, allows our franchisees to spend less time in the books and more time with their customers."
ACT Tuggeranong Discount Drug Store owner Nathan Ledger said he was attracted to the franchise to expand and enhance their service offering to the local community.
"We could see that all the other discount models paid no attention to professional services.
"Discount Drug Stores offers the low price structure, but also excellent professional services...it's really the best of both worlds," Ledger enthused.
Kuskopf-Dallas said the brand would continue to invest in and expand their professional services offering, adding that DDS has also launched a partnership with Next Level, which offers dispensary workflow training, to "enable our pharmacists to spend more time on the shop floor."
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 20 Sep 16
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 20 Sep 16