Dis-Chem

Last updated
Dis-Chem
Dis-Chem Pharmacies
Company type Public
JSE: DCP
ISIN ZAE000227831
Industry Retail
Founded1978;47 years ago (1978) [1]
Founder
  • Lynette Saltzman [1]
  • Ivan Saltzman [1]
Headquarters
Midrand
,
South Africa
Number of locations
300+ (2025 [2] )
Area served
Revenue R  39.17 billion (2025 [3] )
R  2.1 billion (2025 [3] )
R  1.22 billion (2025 [3] )
Total assets R  19.26 million (2025 [3] )
Total equity R  5.23 million (2025 [3] )
Number of employees
18,500 (2025 [4] )
Website www.dischem.co.za

Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited, commonly known as Dis-Chem, is the second-largest retail pharmacy chain in South Africa, operating over 300 stores across Southern Africa. The company offers a wide range of products, including third-party and private label items, both in-store and online, and operates a wholesale division. The company's head office is based in Midrand, Gauteng and is listen on the JSE under the ticker symbol as DCP. [2] [5] [6]

Contents

History

Dis-Chem was founded in 1978 by pharmacists Ivan and Lynette Saltzman. [1] [7] The pharmacy opened its first retail pharmacy in Mondeor, a southern suburb of Johannesburg. [8] The couple introduced the concept of a discount pharmacy, offering product categories that were previously unavailable in South African pharmacies due to restrictive legislation.

In 2014, Dis-Chem expanded internationally by opening its first store outside South Africa, in Windhoek, Namibia. [9] In November 2016, the company listed 27.5% of its share capital on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, raising approximately R  4.4 billion in what was then the second-largest initial public offering in the exchange's history. [10] [11] Following the IPO, Dis-Chem announced plans to double its number of outlets by 2021, with one-third of its stores being less than three years old at the time. [12]

Criticism

In July 2020, the Competition Commission of South Africa found Dis-Chem guilty of inflating prices of certain hygiene products, such as disposable face masks, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribunal imposed an administrative penalty of R  1.2 million [13] , significantly lower than the R  2 billion fine the Commission had initially sought. Dis-Chem chose not to appeal the decision, citing concerns over reputational harm. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "One of South Africa's richest men gives his sons R3.4 billion each". 23 June 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 West, Edward (2025). "Dis-Chem says February retail growth continued". The Star. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Group and company audited annual financial statements 2025 - Dis-Chem" (PDF). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  4. ↑ "Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited". dischem.simplify.hr. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Dis-Chem founders sell head office to group for R500m". Moneyweb. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Could The Market Be Wrong About Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited (JSE:DCP) Given Its Attractive Financial Prospects?". Simply Wall St. Yahoo Finance. 4 August 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  7. ↑ Klawansky, Gillian (11 November 2021). "Lynette and Ivan Saltzman: the chemistry of Dis-Chem". SA Jewish Report. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Dis-Chem says Thank You! We're Grateful for Your Vote and Support!". Randburg Sun. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  9. ↑ Magwaza, Nompumelelo (1 April 2014). "Dis-Chem continues expansion". IOL. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  10. ↑ Strydom, TJ (15 November 2016). "Dis-Chem raises R4.4bn in placing ahead of IPO". Reuters. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "Dis-Chem Success Story". www.epiuselabs.com. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Strydom, TJ (18 November 2016). "Dis-Chem to double pharmacies after South African market debut". Reuters.
  13. ↑ "COMPETITION TRIBUNAL FINDS DISCHEM GUILTY OF INFLATING MASK PRICES DURING COVID-19 DISASTER" (PDF). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "Reputational harm causes Dis-Chem to abandon appeal". Juta MedicalBrief. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "Tribunal fines Dis-Chem R1.2 Million for excessive pricing of face masks during COVID-19 pandemic". 7 July 2020.
  16. ↑ Madisa, Kgothatso (8 July 2020). "Dis-Chem to challenge Competition Tribunal's fine". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  17. ↑ "Dis-Chem fined R1.2m for price inflation". SAnews.gov.za. Mossel Bay Advertiser. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  18. ↑ Mahlangu, Thato (9 July 2020). "Price-gouging Dis-Chem made to pay million rand fine". Corruption Watch. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  19. ↑ Bisseker, Neil (8 July 2020). "Dis-Chem to appeal Tribunal ruling over masks". www.algoafm.co.za. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
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