HelpNet: more drugstores, higher sales

The HelpNet drugstore chain logged $9.4 million turnover in the first seven months of this year and estimates it will conclude 2004 with $19 million in sales, up 87% from 2003. The growth will be largely due to the opening of new drugstores, with the chain currently consisting of 40, as compared with 22 in 2003. The expansion of the network was made possible by an investment plan worth about $1 million, most of which has already been carried out. HelpNet intends to see the number of drugstores reach 50 by the end of the year. HelpNet’s most important competitor and the leading drugstore network in Romania, SensiBlu, had 66 locations at the end of 2003, and currently numbers more than 80. SensiBlu plans to reach 100 drugstores by yearend. ZF