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

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

— FiledMon, 24 Aug, 2026, 10:18 IST·First seen Mon, 24 Aug, 2026, 10:18 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 Retail’s move signals that digital-health brands with pharmacy, diagnostics and last-mile capabilities may become more strategically valuable partnership or acquisition targets.

What to watch

  • A second and third Netmeds physical opening within the next two quarters, especially in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad or Delhi NCR.
  • Evidence that stores offer online-order pickup, same-day delivery, digital prescription upload or unified Netmeds loyalty benefits.
  • Store placement inside or adjacent to Reliance Retail formats rather than standalone high-street pharmacies.
  • Expansion of private-label wellness, devices or exclusive healthcare assortments in stores.
  • Announcements of diagnostics, teleconsultation, insurer or hospital partnerships.
  • Changes in pharmacy e-commerce regulation, state licensing enforcement or rules governing prescription delivery.
  • Competitor responses from Apollo Pharmacy, MedPlus, Tata 1mg and local chains through faster delivery, pricing or clinic integration.
  • Open additional Netmeds stores in Chennai and other high-density metros to validate repeatable unit economics.
  • Use stores as click-and-collect, prescription drop-off and hyperlocal delivery fulfilment points.
  • Launch loyalty offers linking Netmeds orders with Reliance Retail and JioMart customer ecosystems.
  • Expand higher-margin adjacencies including OTC wellness, personal care, medical devices, diagnostics and chronic-care subscriptions.
  • Pursue local doctor, clinic, diagnostic-lab or insurer partnerships to increase prescription and recurring-demand flows.

Also reported by