Celesio distributor considers drugstore chain

German group Celesio, the biggest European drug distributor, is considering expanding on the Romanian market through a drugstore network, according to the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung, quoted by Forbes. Representatives of the German group, a business worth over 20 billion euros, did not specify whether they would enter the local market through the acquisition of a drugstore network or whether they would develop their own brand. In 2005, Celesio acquired Slovenian company Kemofarmacia, the majority shareholder of the local distributor PharmaFarm in Cluj, therefore indirectly entering the local market. PharmaFarm representatives could not be contacted for additional information. Celesio’s plans for Romania are part of a broader investment plan, which also includes the launch of a retail network in Germany, granted that legislation allows it, and also networks in Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria. “We are ready for an expansion on the market,” said Fritz Oesterle, CEO of Celeste. Celesio operated an over 2,000-drugstore network in the UK (1,527 outlets), Norway (120 outlets), Italy (162 outlets), the Netherlands (51 outlets), Ireland (58 outlets), Belgium (82 outlets) and the Czech Republic (45 outlets), through its retail division.