Reliance Retail's offline pharmacy push resurfaces: Netmeds store in Chennai from January 2023
Resurfacing a January 2023 move, Reliance Retail had extended Netmeds beyond e-pharmacy with a physical outlet in Chennai, marking its entry into offline pharmaceutical retail.
What happened
Reliance Retail entered offline pharmaceutical retail by opening a Netmeds store in Chennai, extending the e-pharmacy brand into physical retail.
Why this matters
Reliance’s move into physical pharmacy raises the strategic value of assets that add last-mile healthcare access, prescription fulfillment capabilities or regional store networks.
What to watch
- Number and location of follow-on Netmeds physical stores within the next two quarters.
- Evidence of click-and-collect, store-based delivery fulfillment or unified Netmeds online/offline loyalty.
- Whether Reliance opens stores outside Chennai, especially in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad or Delhi NCR.
- Hiring for pharmacists, pharmacy operations, cold-chain logistics and regional compliance roles.
- Store assortment mix between prescription medicines, OTC products, diagnostics, wellness and private labels.
- Competitive responses from Apollo Pharmacy, MedPlus, Tata 1mg and regional pharmacy chains through discounting or faster delivery.
- Open additional Chennai outlets or announce a Tamil Nadu cluster to test local fulfillment density.
- Link store inventory to Netmeds app ordering for pickup, rapid delivery and prescription upload/refill workflows.
- Use launch discounts, chronic-care subscriptions and private-label wellness products to build repeat footfall.
- Pursue partnerships with diagnostic labs, clinics or insurers to raise pharmacy basket size and customer retention.
- Test Netmeds counters within existing Reliance Retail locations before committing to a broad standalone rollout.