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

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

— Filed Tue, 18 Aug, 2026, 04:49 IST · First seen Tue, 18 Aug, 2026, 04:48 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’s move into physical pharmacy raises the strategic value of local pharmacy networks, diagnostics, clinics and last-mile healthcare partners that can strengthen Netmeds’ omnichannel ecosystem.

What to watch

  • Number and geography of additional Netmeds store openings over the next two to four quarters.
  • Evidence of pharmacist consultations, diagnostic partnerships, prescription pickup or rapid-delivery services at the Chennai location.
  • Integration of Netmeds offers into Reliance loyalty, JioMart, Smart Bazaar or other Reliance consumer platforms.
  • Changes in medicine discounting, private-label mix and average basket size versus online-only Netmeds orders.
  • New state drug licenses, healthcare partnerships or pharmacy supply-chain investments.
  • Competitor responses from Apollo Pharmacy, Tata 1mg, PharmEasy and MedPlus, including local store expansion or pricing actions.
  • Open follow-on Netmeds outlets in Chennai and other high-density metros such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi-NCR.
  • Integrate app-based prescription ordering with in-store pickup, local delivery and digital inventory visibility.
  • Use stores as micro-fulfillment nodes to improve same-day medicine delivery and reduce last-mile costs.
  • Bundle pharmacy purchases with diagnostics, teleconsultation, wellness products and Reliance loyalty benefits.
  • Expand private-label OTC, nutrition, personal-care and medical-device assortment to improve gross margins.
  • Leverage Reliance Retail’s existing store network, real estate relationships and Jio-linked consumer ecosystem for customer acquisition.