Chemist Warehouse Draws 1,000 Daily Shoppers to First UK Store

Chemist Warehouse opened its first UK store in Harrow, northwest London, last week and drew more than 700 customers on day one, with more than 1,000 visiting daily since, according to deputy CEO Mario Tascone.

The Australian pharmacy giant already operates in Ireland, New Zealand and Dubai. Its parent company, Sigma Healthcare, reported $10.8 billion in FY26 revenue, and its 18 Irish stores posted 45 per cent sales growth and turned profitable in the same financial year. More London stores are expected within months.

Tascone frames the UK entry around one promise. "When it comes to price, we are very clear, our worldwide promise to shoppers is simple – we won't be beaten," he told Inside Retail. "We also know everyone loves value, especially during a time when cost of living issues seem universal everywhere."

Why Harrow, and why now?

Tascone said Harrow's diverse population reminds him of the Melbourne suburbs where Chemist Warehouse first established itself. The early footfall, he said, has exceeded expectations.

The company partnered with Green Light Pharmacy, an employee-owned London group founded in 1999, partly for its local patient relationships. "Their pharmacists are front and centre and already well connected with their local communities," Tascone said. Sigma has taken a 75 per cent stake in selected Green Light stores.

The retailer's Australian team oversaw the Harrow fit-out to replicate the familiar layout of narrow aisles, crowded shelves and yellow price tickets. Clinical services — NHS prescriptions, vaccinations, blood pressure checks and contraception — form a large part of the appeal, according to Tascone.

Who is Chemist Warehouse up against?

The competitive set is deep:

• Boots, the UK's largest health and beauty retailer and a 177-year-old market leader, operates more than 1,800 stores, stocks over 500 beauty brands and counts more than 17 million active loyalty members.
• Superdrug operates 789 stores across Britain and Ireland, including 197 in-store pharmacies, with 15.7 million loyalty members.
• The Perfume Shop runs more than 200 stores stocking over 130 fragrance brands.
• Savers, owned by AS Watson — the same group behind Superdrug and The Perfume Shop — has more than 520 stores selling low-price household essentials, cosmetics and personal-care products.

Chemist Warehouse's fragrance, cosmetics, skincare and vitamin ranges put it in direct competition with those chains. Tascone remains confident the discounter can take their customers.

What happens next?

Tascone compares the UK reception to customer loyalty already established overseas. "The response we've had to the store opening so far seems to suggest the British public agree and are just as enthusiastic," he said.

"That's our proposition and judging by the response so far in Harrow it's one that is already resonating with local shoppers," he added.

For now, Chemist Warehouse holds one UK store, a growing customer queue and a healthy balance sheet. Boots, Superdrug, Savers and Britain's fragrance specialists each have clear reasons to watch how quickly the Australian formula scales in London.