Woolworths Group is in deal mode, making a further push into the pharmacy space nearly a year afterThe grocery chain’s subsidiary, HealthyLife, is buying the non-retail assets including key technology and a warehouse, of SuperPharmacy, an online pharmacy specialist with six stores that has operated for more than 20 years. It’s understood the transaction is valued at less than $20 million.Woolworths-backed startup HealthyLife is headed by Ananth Sarathy.
Despite dropping its bid for API, Woolworths never lost sight of the sector and on Friday flagged that the SuperPharmacy stores will be rebranded HealthyLife Pharmacy and the group will be led by Ananth Sarathy.Pharmacist and SuperPharmacy owner, Warren Turner, will remain in the business. The six SuperPharmacy retail stores located in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and West Australia will continue to be owned and operated independently.
“We have contacted the pharmacy authorities in all jurisdictions across Australia to ensure this partnership meets all the state and territory-based registration requirements that all pharmacies must comply with,” the spokesperson said. Mr Turner said this move was a natural step for SuperPharmacy and HealthyLife, and would provide greater access and the delivery of care.