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

Reliance Retail had opened a Netmeds physical pharmacy in Chennai back in January 2023, extending the online pharmacy brand into offline retail and signaling an omnichannel push in medicines and healthcare.

— Filed Tue, 18 Aug, 2026, 10:48 IST · First seen Tue, 18 Aug, 2026, 10:48 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 a physical-store format.

Why this matters

Reliance’s move makes Netmeds a more integrated healthcare platform, raising the strategic value of partnerships or acquisitions in diagnostics, clinics and last-mile medicine delivery.

What to watch

  • Number and location pattern of follow-on Netmeds stores in the next two quarters.
  • Evidence of stores being co-located with Reliance grocery or value retail formats.
  • Launch of omnichannel features such as pickup, store-assisted ordering or sub-hour delivery.
  • Hiring for pharmacists, store operations, diagnostics and healthcare-category roles.
  • Expansion of Netmeds private-label assortment and diagnostics partnerships.
  • Competitive responses from Apollo Pharmacy, MedPlus, PharmEasy and neighborhood chemists.
  • Open additional Netmeds pharmacies across Chennai before extending to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai or Delhi NCR.
  • Co-locate Netmeds counters or pharmacies with Reliance Smart, Smart Bazaar and JioMart fulfillment infrastructure.
  • Launch click-and-collect, rapid neighborhood delivery and in-store prescription upload/refill services.
  • Use Netmeds stores to push private-label wellness, personal care, medical devices and elder-care products.
  • Add diagnostic sample collection, teleconsultation and chronic-disease management partnerships.

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