Drogasil surpasses goals and plans opening 40 stores
DCI
The major drugstore chains have seen the economic crisis from the distance. Indeed, it even seemed to favor the segment, since there are chains planning to extend the dispute to regional markets and increase investments in 2010, such as the Drogasil company, which should close the year with growth above what had been initially projected. The goal was growing 26%, but from January to September it had grown 34.9% compared to the same period of 2008. Besides, it should open another 40 units in 2010, with an investment of nearly R$ 45 million (US$ 26.2 million), compared to nearly 35 stores that should be opened this year.
According to Cláudio Roberto Ely, CEO and Investor Relations Officer of the chain, the budget for 2009, which considered the economic crisis, was one of the worst they ever had, but right in the first quarter they already had good results and in the last quarter the increase reached 37.5%, while the market grew 12.1%. The expectation of the market is that the chain soon reaches more than R$ 2 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) in earnings, because, in 2008, it closed the year with gross earnings of R$ 1.3 billion (US$ 755.8 million) and in the year to date, it has already reached R$ 1.2 billion (US$ 697.7 million).
To do that, it should keep the accelerated organic growth, but acquisitions, as occurred in February 2008 in Brasilia with the purchase of the Vison chain, with 24 stores in the capital of the Country, are not ruled out. Today, the company has 278 units in São Paulo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, in the Federal District and Espírito Santo, and it is studying entering in other States. The only State of the Southeast the company is not present yet is Rio de Janeiro, with rivals such as Drogaria Pacheco, considered the fourth largest chain in the Country. In March this year, Pacheco entered in the capital of São Paulo, Drogasil's main market, and it already has 21 stores.