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

Back in January 2023, Reliance Retail opened a Netmeds physical store in Chennai, extending its e-pharmacy brand into offline retail and signalling a broader omni-channel push in medicines and healthcare.

— Filed Fri, 21 Aug, 2026, 12:50 IST · First seen Fri, 21 Aug, 2026, 12:49 IST · Source Inc42 · Quick Commerce

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 is turning Netmeds from an e-pharmacy asset into an omni-channel healthcare platform, increasing the strategic appeal of partnerships or acquisitions in diagnostics, clinics and last-mile health services.

What to watch

  • Number and geography of new Netmeds physical stores over the next two to four quarters.
  • Evidence that stores support click-and-collect, prescription upload, rapid delivery or integrated Netmeds app loyalty.
  • Store placement inside or adjacent to Reliance Smart, Smart Bazaar, JioMart fulfilment points or other Reliance formats.
  • Announcements around diagnostics, doctor consultations, insurance, chronic-care programs or health memberships.
  • Changes in drug retail licensing enforcement, e-pharmacy rules, prescription verification requirements or medicine-delivery regulation.
  • Pricing response and offline expansion activity from Apollo Pharmacy, MedPlus, Tata 1mg and PharmEasy.
  • Disclosure of private-label healthcare assortments or exclusive supplier agreements.
  • Open additional Netmeds pilot stores across Chennai and other major metros, especially near dense residential and hospital catchments.
  • Enable app-to-store prescription pickup, same-day hyperlocal delivery and in-store returns or consultations.
  • Use Netmeds outlets as collection points for diagnostics samples, health checks and chronic-care subscriptions.
  • Bundle pharmacy benefits with JioMart, Reliance Smart, Reliance Digital and loyalty programs to lower customer-acquisition costs.
  • Expand higher-margin categories including OTC medicines, vitamins, personal care, medical devices and private-label wellness products.
  • Pursue partnerships with diagnostic labs, insurers, hospitals or teleconsultation providers.

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