The Shake-Up in Vietnam’s Pharmacy Chain Expansion Race
The race to expand pharmacy chains in Vietnam has reached a crucial turning point, with Long Ch'su emerging as a clear leader, while Pharmacity and An Khang are scaling back to restructure. Vietnam’s pharmaceutical retail market, currently valued at around $2 billion, has seen intense competition, particularly among modern pharmacy chains like Long Ch'su, Pharmacity, and An Khang. These chains, despite only holding about 5% of the market, aimed to capture the remaining 95% dominated by small, independent pharmacies.
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred a surge in demand for medicines and healthcare services, prompting these companies to aggressively expand. At one point, it seemed like new pharmacies were opening daily. However, after three years of expansion, the landscape has shifted. Long Ch'su has found a successful model and continues to grow, while Pharmacity and An Khang have had to close stores and focus on restructuring.
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Long Ch'su, initially the smallest of the major pharmacy chains, has outpaced its competitors since being acquired by FPT Retail in 2016. FPT recognized the immense potential of the pharmaceutical market and invested heavily in Long Ch'su’s expansion. Despite initial challenges, by 2023, Long Ch'su had become the largest chain, surpassing Pharmacity with over 1,000 stores and contributing significantly to FPT’s revenue.
Pharmacity, once the leader with over 1,100 stores, began closing underperforming outlets in 2022. By 2023, it had lost its lead, with just 898 stores remaining. The company’s higher prices and limited stock have been cited as reasons for its decline. Pharmacity’s strategy of focusing on convenience, offering non-pharmaceutical items like cosmetics and snacks, hasn’t been enough to maintain its dominance.
An Khang, acquired by Mobile World Group (MWG) in 2017, also expanded rapidly but faced mounting losses, leading to store closures. With 326 stores remaining, An Khang is now focused on restructuring its business to operate more efficiently.
In contrast, Long Ch'su’s strategy of offering prescription drugs at competitive prices, while securing prime locations near hospitals, has proven effective. As of September 2024, Long Ch'su is approaching 2,000 stores and continues to expand. It has even ventured into new areas, such as integrating vaccination centers into its pharmacies.
While Pharmacity and An Khang work on refining their models and restructuring, Long Ch'su remains a dominant force, setting the pace in Vietnam’s rapidly evolving pharmaceutical retail market.
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