SIGMA offshoot Discount Drug Stores (DDS) has partnered with Cairns pharmacists Frank and Vince Pappalardo to develop a new "big box" pharmacy brand.
Wholehealth Discount Drug Store and Healthfoods aims to deliver "a holistic approach to healthcare and healthy living, and will debut with two flagship outlets in the north Queensland city, at Barr Street Markets in Earlville and Pease Street in Manoora.
A further three upcoming openings are scheduled for South East Queensland in 2018.
The larger format model ensures all new stores occupy a minimum of 500 square metres, with the aim of allowing the Discount Drug Stores brand to expand into standalone and destination retail sites.
Co-founder Frank Pappalardo said the holistic approach had been trialled at the Pease Street Discount Drug Store and seen an "amazing response from our customers".
The Pappalardos partnered with retailing expert Harry Nina to expand the retail footprint "as demand continued to grow for affordable true health & organics".
Sigma Healthcare Discount Pharmacy Retail Group gm Doug Kuskopf-Dallas, said the new approach was the evolution of pharmacy, and would also see the introduction of the Wholehealth category into the existing network of DDS stores.
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