ICA to open its own pharmacies
ICA to open its own pharmacies
Solna, Sweden, October 9, 2009
ICA plans to open its own, full-size pharmacies in a number of large ICA- stores around the country. The first pharmacies as part of this shop-in-shop concept are expected to open in the spring of 2010.
ICA believes strongly in the new pharmacy market now opening up in Sweden. By opening its own pharmacies, ICA can meet customer demand for accessibility and service.
The pharmacies will offer both prescription and non-prescription medications and have pharmacy staff on hand.
"We see major opportunities in this new market in terms of non-prescription medications in all ICA stores and full-size pharmacies in large stores. We have looked at various solutions how to shape our presence in the prescription portion of the market. When our discussions about a possible cooperation with Apoteket, the Swedish state-owned pharmaceuticals retail, could not continue, we decided to open our own pharmacies. We believe this will be a very good solution for our customers," says Kenneth Bengtsson, President and CEO of ICA AB.
ICA is now continuing its planning, including the recruitment of new employees. More details about the new pharmacy concept will be presented shortly.
"Our aim is to eventually open around 100 pharmacies in the Swedish market," says Kenneth Bengtsson.
For further information, please contact: ICAs press hotline, phone +46 70 253 66 60 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About ICA The ICA Group (ICA AB) is one of the Nordic regions leading retail companies, with around 2,230 of its own and retailer-owned stores in Sweden, Norway and the Baltic states. The Group includes the retail companies ICA Sweden, ICA Norway and Rimi Baltic. ICA also offers financial services to Swedish customers through ICA Banken. ICA AB is a joint venture 40% owned by Hakon Invest AB and 60% by Royal Ahold N.V. of the Netherlands. According to a shareholder agreement, Royal Ahold and Hakon Invest jointly share a controlling influence over ICA AB. Through Royal Ahold, ICA AB is part of an international retail network. For more information, please visit http://www.ica.se