Dis-Chem
{{Short description|Pharmacy chain in South Africa}}
{{More references needed|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Dis-Chem
| logo = Dischem Logo.png
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| trade_name = Dis-Chem Pharmacies
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| type = Public
| traded_as = {{Jse|DCP}}
| ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|ZAE000227831}}
| industry = Retail
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| founded = {{Start date and age|1978|01|01|df=y}}
| founder = Lynette & Ivan Saltzman {{citation needed|date=June 2025}}
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| hq_location_city = Midrand
| hq_location_country = South Africa
| num_locations = 170 {{citation needed|date=June 2025}}
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| area_served = South Africa
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| revenue = R21.4 Billion {{citation needed|date=June 2025}}
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| num_employees = 18,000 {{citation needed|date=June 2025}}
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| website = {{URL|https://www.dischem.co.za/}}
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Dis-Chem is the second-largest retail pharmacy chain in South Africa, operating 173 stores across Southern Africa.[https://www.dischem.co.za/find-a-store "Find a store"] Dis-Chem website, accessed 9 July 2020
Dis-Chem sells both third party and private label products in stores and online, and operates a wholesale division.
History
Dis-Chem started in 1978 when pharmacists Ivan and Lynette Saltzman, opened their first retail pharmacy in Mondeor, a southern suburb of Johannesburg. They introduced the concept of a discount pharmacy with product categories that until then, had not been offered in South African pharmacies because of prohibiting legislation.
In 2014, Dis-Chem opened its first store outside South Africa, in Windhoek, Namibia.
In November 2016, Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited group listed 27.5% of its listed share capital on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. It was the second-largest IPO in the exchange's history.[https://www.dischem.co.za/about-dis-chem "About Dis-Chem"] Dis-Chem website, accessed 9 July 2020
In 2016, the company announced its plans to double its number of outlets through 2021. At the time, one-third of its stores were less than 3 years old.{{cite news |last1=Strydom |first1=TJ |title=Dis-Chem to double pharmacies after South African market debut |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dischem-listing/dis-chem-to-double-pharmacies-after-south-african-market-debut-idUSKBN13D1DS |publisher=Reuters |date=18 November 2016}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.comptrib.co.za/info-library/case-press-releases/tribunal-fines-dis-chem-r12-million-for-excessive-pricing-of-face-masks-during-covid-19-pandemic|title=Tribunal fines Dis-Chem R1.2 Million for excessive pricing of face masks during COVID-19 pandemic|date=7 July 2020}}