The plan was to expand by about 15 new pharmacies in 2020, but the crisis caused by the pandemic forced the company to adjust its priorities.
“The investment plan is concentrated around the increase in the number of licenses we operate, as well as on upgrading the pharmacies in the network. The COVID-19 crisis forced us to slow down implementation of our development plans for now. This doesn’t mean we’re shelving them,” Mihaela Ungureanu, CEO of the Dona group, told ZF.
The Dona group includes Siepcofar SA (the pharmacy operator), the franchised companies, the Dona Logistica medicine warehouse, and Dona Marketing Group.
Last year was also good in terms of profit for Dona, which posted RON14.5 million income, double as much as in 2018.
Last year’s growth was fueled by over the counter medicines, the main growth driver of the market, since their price is not set by the authorities.
Dona has 338 pharmacies, 26 of which held by franchisees. It is the fourth largest pharmaceutical retailer in the country by number of pharmacies.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)