Reliance Retail resurfaces January 2023 move taking Netmeds offline with first Chennai pharmacy store

Resurfacing a January 2023 development, Reliance Retail entered offline pharmacy retail by opening a Netmeds store in Chennai, extending its digital pharmacy brand into physical retail and strengthening its omnichannel healthcare play.

— Filed Thu, 20 Aug, 2026, 13:49 IST · First seen Thu, 20 Aug, 2026, 13:49 IST · Source Inc42 · Quick Commerce

What happened

Reliance Retail entered India’s offline pharmaceutical retail market by opening a Netmeds store in Chennai, extending the online pharmacy brand into physical

Key facts

  • January 30, 2023

Why this matters

Reliance’s move signals that digital pharmacy platforms with strong brands, prescription capabilities and local fulfillment assets could become more strategically valuable acquisition or partnership targets.

What to watch

  • Number and geography of follow-on Netmeds store openings within the next two quarters.
  • Evidence of Netmeds counters embedded in existing Reliance Retail formats rather than only standalone stores.
  • Launch of in-store prescription fulfilment, pharmacist consultation, diagnostics collection or click-and-collect services.
  • Promotional integration with JioMart, Reliance One, Jio platforms or Reliance loyalty programs.
  • Changes in drug-retail regulation, e-pharmacy enforcement or state-level licensing requirements.
  • Competitive response from Apollo Pharmacy, MedPlus, Tata 1mg, PharmEasy and organized retail pharmacy chains.
  • Management commentary on pharmacy-store unit economics, repeat purchase behavior and omnichannel order mix.
  • Open additional Netmeds pilot stores in Chennai or nearby Tamil Nadu markets.
  • Add click-and-collect, digital prescription upload and rapid local delivery from the store.
  • Co-locate Netmeds outlets or pharmacy counters with Reliance Smart, Smart Bazaar, Trends or JioMart fulfilment locations.
  • Use membership, loyalty and health-product bundles to raise basket size beyond prescription medicines.
  • Expand private-label wellness, OTC, diagnostics, personal care and medical-device assortments.
  • Pursue partnerships with diagnostic labs, clinics, insurers or telehealth providers to increase repeat healthcare engagement.