Resurfacing a January 2023 move: Reliance Retail took Netmeds offline with Chennai pharmacy store

Reliance Retail had opened a Netmeds physical pharmacy in Chennai back in January 2023, extending its e-pharmacy brand into offline retail and signalling an omnichannel healthcare push.

— Filed Wed, 19 Aug, 2026, 11:05 IST · First seen Wed, 19 Aug, 2026, 11:04 IST · Source Inc42 · Quick Commerce

What happened

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

Why this matters

Reliance’s omnichannel pharmacy move raises the strategic value of assets with prescription networks, diagnostic partnerships, last-mile delivery and trusted local healthcare access.

What to watch

  • Number and geography of new Netmeds physical-store openings over the next two quarters.
  • Evidence of click-and-collect, store-based delivery or unified Netmeds-Reliance loyalty benefits.
  • Store assortment mix between prescription drugs, OTC products, wellness and private-label goods.
  • Hiring of pharmacists, pharmacy operations leaders or local supply-chain capacity expansion.
  • Regulatory developments affecting e-pharmacy, prescription validation, drug delivery and discounting.
  • Competitive responses from Apollo Pharmacy, MedPlus, Tata 1mg and regional pharmacy chains.
  • Open additional Netmeds pharmacy pilots in Chennai and other major metros.
  • Integrate Netmeds stores with app ordering, pickup, refill reminders and rapid local delivery.
  • Cross-sell private-label wellness, personal care, medical devices and diagnostics services.
  • Use Reliance Retail real estate, supply chain and loyalty ecosystem to lower store acquisition and customer acquisition costs.
  • Pursue partnerships with clinics, diagnostic labs, insurers or corporate-health programs to increase prescription traffic.

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