Drugstores invest and stay far from the crisis
DCI 02/17/2009
Differently from the segments that have started pressuring the Public Power not to have a fall in profits, such as the automotive market and the civil construction one, in the sector of pharmacies and drugstores, in which the big chains do not depend on great credit lines to keep their businesses, the situation is quite different. The sector had activities amounting to R$ 10 billion (US$ 5.5 billion) in 2008, an increase of 21.32% compared to 2007. The forecast of the entities that represent this market is that this year, even with the crisis, the companies of the sector will have a moderate increase in sales. Nonetheless, the big chains have kept their expansion plans, like Drogaria Onofre, which, very optimistic with the sector, foresees a high of up to 20% for this year over last year, according to Carlos Marques, Commercial Superintendent of the company. In the perspective of growth, Drogaria Onofre which, according to the ranking of the Brazilian Association of the Chains of Pharmacies and Drugstores (Abrafarma), is the chain with more income per square meter in the Country sees the setting for this year positively. From the perspective of the entities of the sector, Sérgio Mena Barreto, Abrafarma's president, says that the estimation is for the maintenance of the growth levels for this year. "We are the last sector to be affected by the crisis and the first one to get out of it, because we sell first need products. No one stops buying hygiene and beauty products, nor medicine.