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Category: Soul Pattinson Chemist

Statement from Emily Amos, Managing Director, Wesfarmers Health regarding Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) decision on Sigma / Chemist Warehouse merger

Posted on by Lucy

Wesfarmers Health notes today’s decision by the ACCC that it will not oppose the Chemist Warehouse / Sigma merger.

The Chemist Warehouse / Sigma merger represents a different operating model for retail pharmacy in Australia.

Through complex ownership structures and transactions, Chemist Warehouse has been able to navigate certain key aspects of pharmacy regulation to enable a level of corporatisation in the sector, which will only increase as a result of the merger.

The new, merged entity will have retail pharmacy sales which are three times those of its closest competitor. It is already a very substantial participant in the industry and over time, we expect that the merger is likely to bring change to the community pharmacy sector.

We know that community pharmacies are an important source of advice and healthcare for Australian patients.

API and Priceline Pharmacy remain committed to supporting community pharmacy and franchise partners to innovate and succeed in this different environment, and to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, for all Australians.

Priceline Pharmacy will continue to enhance its market-leading retail offer in support of its franchisees, helping them evolve and strengthen their businesses.

Wesfarmers Health to build new fulfilment centre in Cairns

Posted on by WesfarmersHAdmin

L-R (Doug Swan, Hon Warren Entsch MP, Neville Reys, Trent Twomey, Sean Adams and Cairns Deputy Mayor Brett Olds)

A ceremonial groundbreaking marked the commencement of the construction of Wesfarmers Health’s new API Cairns Fulfilment Centre.

Hundreds of Cairns locals will be employed during the construction phase with new, permanent jobs also created once the API site opens in October 2025.

Local dignitaries attended the event including Federal Member for Leichhardt, the Hon Warren Entsch MP, Cairns Deputy Mayor Brett Olds and the National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Professor Trent Twomey, who owns several pharmacies in the Cairns region serviced by Wesfarmers Health’s current API Distribution Centre. A welcome to country and smoking ceremony was conducted by Neville Reys from Gimuy-Walubara.

The new Fulfilment Centre will supply more than 120 pharmacies from Cairns, south to Mackay, inland to Mount Isa and to the tip of Australia including Thursday Island.

Executive General Manager – API, Doug Swan said, “Wesfarmers Health has a clear mission: to make health, beauty and wellness experiences simpler, more affordable and easier to access. And this new facility will help us achieve this mission.”

“The new Fulfilment Centre will be nearly three times as large as our current site and will increase product ranging to 6,500, boast updated technology in the warehouse and feature solar panels to drive our Net Zero sustainability goals.

“Our API wholesale business plays an extremely important role in servicing Australia’s health system. This is the only part of our health system where people located in rural and remote locations – like Cairns and beyond – get the same level of service, at the same price as those in big cities,” he said.

Trent Twomey, President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia attended the event saying, “Pharmacies play a critical role in Australia’s healthcare system and rely on wholesalers like API to deliver medicines to our pharmacies. As the owner of pharmacies in Cairns, I’m excited by this larger, brand-new facility which will help me provide exceptional, timely service to customers in the Far North Queensland region.”