Resurfacing: Reliance Retail's first Netmeds offline pharmacy store in Chennai (January 2023)

Revisiting a January 2023 move in which Reliance Retail extended its Netmeds digital pharmacy business into physical retail with a store launch in Chennai, signalling an omnichannel push in healthcare retail.

— FiledWed, 9 Sept, 2026, 10:03 IST·First seen Wed, 9 Sept, 2026, 10:03 IST·Source Inc42 · Quick Commerce

What happened

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

Why this matters

The physical Netmeds format creates partnership and acquisition opportunities in diagnostics, clinics, last-mile delivery and pharmacy supply chains.

What to watch

  • Number and geographic spread of Netmeds offline store openings over the next two to four quarters.
  • Evidence that stores offer app pickup, rapid delivery dispatch, diagnostics, consultations or prescription management beyond conventional pharmacy retail.
  • Integration of Netmeds benefits with JioMart, Reliance Retail loyalty programs or Reliance grocery formats.
  • Changes in Netmeds assortment mix toward private-label wellness, OTC, beauty and high-margin healthcare products.
  • Competitive responses from Apollo Pharmacy, Tata 1mg, PharmEasy, MedPlus and regional pharmacy chains.
  • State-level pharmacy licensing, e-pharmacy regulation and restrictions affecting fulfillment or prescription workflows.
  • Open additional Netmeds pharmacy pilots in Chennai and other high-density metros such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi NCR.
  • Add app-linked services including click-and-collect, rapid prescription delivery, digital prescription uploads and local inventory visibility.
  • Use pharmacist consultations, chronic-care subscriptions, wellness products and diagnostics partnerships to raise basket size and customer retention.
  • Test co-location or adjacency with Reliance grocery and neighbourhood retail formats.
  • Offer launch discounts, loyalty rewards and delivery memberships to shift online Netmeds customers into an omnichannel relationship.

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