Jeronimo Martins launches its drugstore network in Poland

The drugstore network owned by Portuguese Jeronimo Martins will be called Bliska Apteka. The first four outlets will be launched in Warsaw and Łódź.

Jeronimo Martins, the owner of discount supermarkets, is going to launch its drugstore chain soon. In June, the company registered Bliska Apteka firm. The founding capital amounts to PLN 250,000 (EUR 63,250). Yesterday, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) approved of the fact that 50 percent of Bliska Apteka is acquired by Farmindustria – Investimentos, Participacoes e Gestao, a company controlled by the Portuguese association of drugstore owners. The talks between Jeronimo and the association have been going on for two years.

There are 830 Biedronka supermarkets in Poland. A drugstore could be located in each of them. However, the majority of the supermarkets do not have enough space. In others, there are already private owners running their drugstores. According to “Puls Biznesu” sources, a pilot program will be launched in upcoming weeks. Two outlets will be launched in Warsaw and two in Łódż.

(PLN 1 = EUR 0.253)

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