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Tag: chemist

  • Quench Your Thirst with Lvl Up’s New Electrolyte Hydration Drinks – Now at Chemist Warehouse

    Quench Your Thirst with Lvl Up’s New Electrolyte Hydration Drinks – Now at Chemist Warehouse

    The company Lvl Up has recently expanded its ready-to-drink (RTD) electrolyte beverage offerings with the addition of new flavors that are exclusively sold at Chemist Warehouse.

    New Flavors, More Choices

    The latest offerings come in non-carbonated 330ml cans and include three new flavors: Grape, Mixed Berry, and Lemon-Lime. Each can offers a refreshing, low-sugar beverage that contains just 40 calories, catering to health-conscious consumers who are also seeking flavor and convenience.

    Availability and Pricing

    These RTD electrolyte beverages are available to buy at Chemist Warehouse stores throughout Australia. Alternatively, customers can also make their purchases through the company’s official online platform. Prices for these products range from $4.99 up to $77.99.

    Filling a Market Gap

    Austin Xenos, a co-founder of Lvl Up, noted that the brand identified a clear gap in the market. He observed that Australians, with their busy lifestyles, often overlook hydration. The company sought to address this need by creating a product that combines practicality and taste, contributing to an improved lifestyle without compromising on the health aspect.

    Questions & Answers

    What are the new flavors introduced by Lvl Up in its RTD electrolyte range?
    Lvl Up has introduced three new flavors in its RTD electrolyte range: Grape, Mixed Berry, and Lemon-Lime.

    Where can these new beverages from Lvl Up be purchased?
    These new products from Lvl Up can be purchased at Chemist Warehouse locations across Australia and through the brand’s website.

    What was the motivation behind Lvl Up’s introduction of these new products?
    Lvl Up identified a gap in the market where Australians, given their busy lifestyles, were neglecting hydration. The company aimed to address this by providing a product that delivers on function without compromising on taste or lifestyle.

  • Blooms the Chemist Enhances Customer Experience with Innovative Store Redesign

    Blooms the Chemist Enhances Customer Experience with Innovative Store Redesign

    Blooms the Chemist, an Australian community pharmacy chain, is rolling out a new store design at its Figtree branch, aiming to provide a welcoming and hassle-free shopping journey for its local customers.

    New Store Design

    As part of a revamped brand approach, the latest design is a cooperative project with Chemfit, a long-standing and reliable partner. The concept was devised by Mathew Dalby, a retail design specialist from StudioFab.

    The unique design features include a color-coded arrangement and additional signage, aimed at crafting an uninterrupted and comfortable customer shopping experience.

    Brand Refresh Strategy

    The revamp, destined to be implemented across all Blooms the Chemist outlets over the coming two years, is targeted at providing retail excellence along with expert service and personalized care to the distinct local communities that the pharmacies cater to.

    Narelle Duncan, the head of network development at Blooms the Chemist, enthusiastically shared that the new brand concept introduced to pharmacy owners in 2024 was met with widespread approval across their member network.

    She asserted that the redesigned store will help bring uniformity to the Blooms network, thus promoting brand consistency. “This refreshed store layout makes health and wellness more accessible for locals by creating an inviting and user-friendly shopping ambiance. Furthermore, it enhances our pharmacists’ efficiency and practicality,” added Duncan.

    Positive Customer Feedback

    The team at Blooms the Chemist Figtree have already reported positive customer responses regarding the appealing aesthetics and enhanced in-store experience.

    Presently, Blooms the Chemist operates over 130 community pharmacies across Australia.

    Questions & Answers

    What are the key features of the new store design?
    The new design includes a color-coded layout and additional signage to provide an uninterrupted and comfortable customer shopping experience.

    What’s the purpose of the new store design?
    The revamped store design is aimed at delivering retail excellence, expert service, and personalized care to the local communities. It also intends to promote brand consistency across the Blooms network.

    What has been the initial response to the new design?
    The team at Blooms the Chemist Figtree have reported positive customer feedback, particularly noting the appealing aesthetics and enhanced in-store experience.

  • Moments Health Brand Makes Retail Debut In New Zealand’s Chemist Warehouse Stores

    Moments Health Brand Makes Retail Debut In New Zealand’s Chemist Warehouse Stores

    The health and wellness brand, Moments, has marked its debut in the physical retail market of New Zealand. The brand’s wide-ranging products, including adult toys, condoms, and lubricants, are now available in Chemist Warehouse stores across the country and online.

    Moments’ Debut in Physical Stores

    Nikhil Daftary, the MD and founder of Moments, shared that although the brand has been accessible in New Zealand since 2019, its products were previously exclusively sold online. The brand’s foray into a physical retail environment represents a new chapter in its growth. “New Zealand represents an exciting market for us due to its progressive and open-minded attitude towards sexual health,” said Daftary.

    By bringing Moments’ products to Chemist Warehouse outlets, the company aims to engage with more women, empowering them to purchase sexual health and wellness products with confidence.

    Range of Products

    The range of products that Moments offers at Chemist Warehouse includes five variants of condoms – the Mega Thin 0.03 and dual-lubricated types among them. The product line also includes two kinds of lubricants, one of which is bubble gum-flavored, and a complete range of pleasure toys such as Mood, CEO, Baddie, and Vibin’.

    Beyond its retail operations, Moments also supplies between eight and ten million condoms annually to the New Zealand government via its Pharmac contract.

    Brand’s History

    Since its inception in 2017, Moments has distributed over 60 million products across Australia and New Zealand. The brand has also donated in excess of 5 million condoms to charities that focus on women’s and sexual health.

    Questions & Answers

    What types of products does Moments offer at Chemist Warehouse stores?
    Moments offers a range of products including five condom variants, two kinds of lubricants, and a full line-up of pleasure toys.

    When did Moments first become available in New Zealand?
    Moments has been available in New Zealand since 2019, although initially, it was only available online.

    How many condoms does Moments supply to the New Zealand government each year?
    Moments supplies between eight and ten million condoms annually to the New Zealand government.

  • Sigma Healthcare Resets Merger Synergy Target With Chemist Warehouse Amidst Significant Revenue Surge

    Sigma Healthcare Resets Merger Synergy Target With Chemist Warehouse Amidst Significant Revenue Surge

    Sigma Healthcare has revised its merger synergy target with Chemist Warehouse, following a significant increase in both its top and bottom line results last year.

    New Merger Synergy Targets

    Sigma Healthcare has now set its synergy target for the merger at $100 million per annum, a substantial increase from the previous target of $60 million. The company aims to attain this goal within a span of four years.

    The last fiscal year ending June 30 saw an 82.2 per cent surge in revenue to $6 billion. Chemist Warehouse reported a 14 per cent increase in retail network sales, and a notable 11.3 per cent rise in like-for-like sales across the Australian network.

    Brand Expansion and Financial Performance

    Over the past year, Sigma increased its portfolio of proprietary and exclusive brand products, with a notable release of 269 products in the Wagner generics range last November. The sales of proprietary and exclusive label products saw an increase of over 20 per cent.

    When it comes to the bottom line, statutory earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) increased by 33.6 per cent to $824 million, while the net profit after tax (NPAT) reported a slight decline of 2.1 per cent to $530 million. However, normalized EBITDA saw a rise of 41.4 per cent to $884 million, and NPAT also increased by 40.1 per cent to $579 million.

    By June 30, the net debt stood at $752 million, significantly lower than the initial net debt range of $1 billion to $1.3 billion as indicated in the merger prospectus.

    Anticipated Growth and Future Plans

    Sigma CEO and MD, Vikesh Ramsunder, stated that the merger with Chemist Warehouse has resulted in a more robust, integrated healthcare business with enhanced scale, capability, and market reach. He emphasized that the FY25 results highlight the group’s momentum and potential for sustained growth.

    As part of its plan for the new fiscal year, Sigma intends to continue the expansion of Chemist Warehouse stores both domestically and internationally at a steady pace. It also plans to introduce new proprietary and exclusive label products to enhance margins.

    Sigma also announced the closure of distribution centres in South Guildford, WA, and Port Adelaide, SA, with services being moved to existing centres in Canning Vale and Pooraka. The company also plans to gradually close brick-and-mortar Chemist Warehouse stores in China over the next few years, focusing on achieving profitable growth, with the Chinese market being serviced through online channels thereafter.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new merger synergy target set by Sigma Healthcare?
    The new merger synergy target set by Sigma Healthcare is $100 million per annum, up from the previous target of $60 million.

    What are Sigma Healthcare’s plans for the new fiscal year?
    Sigma plans to expand Chemist Warehouse stores in Australia and internationally, launch new proprietary and exclusive label products, and shift services from closing distribution centres to existing ones.

    What is Sigma Healthcare’s strategy for the Chinese market?
    Sigma Healthcare plans to gradually close Chemist Warehouse physical stores in China over the next few years, focusing on servicing the Chinese market through online channels.

  • Sigma confident of turnaround plan

    Sigma confident of turnaround plan

    Pharmaceutical retailer Sigma Healthcare’s net profit fell 33.1 per cent to $37 million in FY19, down from $55 million in the prior corresponding period.

    Total revenue also decreased in the year to January 31, 2019, falling 2.9 per cent to $3.98 billion, compared to $4.09 billion in FY18.

    The business declared a final dividend for FY19 of 2 cents per share, and Sigma chairman Brian Jamieson stated the business remained committed to returning a high proportion of its NPAT to shareholders.

    Sigma also shared with investors further details about Project Pivot, the turnaround initiative it unveiled after dropping its Chemist Warehouse contract in September 2018, including over $100 million of efficiency gains to be enacted over the next two years.

    “Whilst a large proportion of the cost savings come from extracting costs incurred to directly deliver services to, additional cost savings will come from a restructure of functional areas within Sigma, and changes within our DC network,” Sigma chief executive and managing director Mark Hooper said.

    “This work has already commenced with plans and timeframes communicated to our DC team members in March.”

    As part of these changes, Sigma will cut staff and close three distribution centres, in Shepparton, Newcastle and Launceston, by October 2019.

    The retailer recently refused an offer to merge with Priceline owner Australian Pharmaceuticals Industries on the grounds that it undervalued its long term prospects, and that the $60 million of savings the combined company was forecasted to make was not as efficient as its own $100 million savings plan.

    API countered this claim last week, stating that the cost savings Sigma cites are uncertain and unclear, and that the company has so far released little information in regards to its restructure.

    “While the Sigma Board is not philosophically against industrial consolidation, the assessment of management, the Board and our advisors was united – this proposal was not in the best interest of Sigma shareholders,” Jamieson, the company’s chairman, said.

    “Our Project Pivot review and the cost efficiencies to flow from it, along with the structural reforms we are implementing to provide step change to our operations, give us great confidence in the direction we are heading and the future of our business on a standalone basis.”

    Sigma has reaffirmed its EBITDA guidance for FY20 of $55-60 million, with the savings of Project Pivot not likely to come into effect immediately. Hooper had previously stated it was unlikely EBITDA would return to FY19 levels until FY23.

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