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-- Canada's leader in Community Pharmacy celebrates significant milestone --
April 26, 2007
– Toronto, Ontario – Shoppers Drug Mart today opens the doors of its 1,000th store, becoming the first Canadian retailer to reach this significant milestone. From its modest beginnings as a 17 location drug store chain in 1962, Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix® in Québec) has grown to become Canada’s largest retail pharmacy. Known for its network of accessible and convenient locations across the country, Shoppers Drug Mart is an indelible part of the Canadian retail landscape; providing healthcare and lifestyle products and services to Canadians from coast to coast . This achievement commemorates 45 years of community pharmacy across the country.
"Today marks a major milestone for our Company, made possible by the dedication and commitment of our Associate-owners and their teams," says Jürgen Schreiber, president and chief executive officer of Shoppers Drug Mart. "As we continue to evolve and grow our business to meet the health care, beauty and convenience needs of Canadians, the legacy of Shoppers Drug Mart and our founder Murray Koffler, will continue to inspire our commitment to the communities we serve."
Murray Koffler believed it was possible to build a national network of pharmacies without sacrificing the personal service of the local community pharmacist. This vision is the cornerstone of the Shoppers Drug Mart legacy and has helped build a brand that is synonymous with exceptional value, service and trust.
"It is a dream come true to see the company grow to 1,000 stores and I am truly proud of my association with Shoppers Drug Mart,” says Murray Koffler, founder of Shoppers Drug Mart. "What is most rewarding is that every store – all 1,000 across the country – approach customer service the same way we did 45 years ago: personally, professionally and with a true commitment to every person that walks through the door. ”
The 1,000th store located in Don Mills, Ontario is near the site of one of the first Shoppers Drug Marts. Like the original, this relocated store will continue to be an integral part of the community it serves.
About the 1,000 th Store Celebration
Shoppers Drug Mart begins its 1,000th store celebration officially on Saturday April 28th. The national celebration will take place at all 1,000 stores across Canada and features a variety of promotions such as a the opportunity to earn 1,000’s of Shoppers Optimum bonus points on 1,000s of items in the store, contest give-aways of $1,000 shopping sprees, vintage products and a chance to win tickets to the Stanley Cup finals.
Shoppers Drug Mart – Major Milestones
1921 - Leon Koffler, father of founder Murray Koffler, opens the first two Koffler drugstores in Toronto
1941 - Murray Koffler succeeds his father and runs Koffler's Drugs at the age of 20
1962 - Murray Koffler revolutionizes the retail drug industry by introducing self serve in pharmacy and building a network of 17 drugstores called Shoppers Drug Mart; each owned by a fellow pharmacist or Associate
LIFE brand was created as the house brand and the first LIFE brand products were introduced
1968 - Shoppers Drug Mart grows to 52 stores in Ontario by merging with 33 Plaza Drugstores
1970 - Shoppers Drug Mart purchases 100 Cunningham Drug Stores in British Columbia and Alberta
1972 - Grand opening of the first Pharmaprix store in Québec
1974 - Lord’s Supervalue Pharmacies in Atlantic Canada join the Shoppers Drug Mart family
1978 - Koffler Stores Limited joins Imasco Limited as a wholly owned subsidiary
1986 - Murray Koffler retires
1991 - 500th store is opened
- Shoppers Drug Mart sets new standard of pharmacy care in Canada with the introduction of HealthWATCH®; a collection of unique supportive tools and services for pharmacy customers.
1995 - Shoppers Drug Mart acquires 135 Big V Drugstores
2000 - Successful launch of the Shoppers Optimum card
2001 - Successful completion of initial public offering
2002 - The first large format stores are introduced
2003 - The first Beauty BOUTIQUE™ is opened
2006 – Updated HealthWATCH technology is rolled out to more than 500 stores in Canada
2007 - The Company opens its 1,000th store
Shoppers Drug Mart Across Canada
- In Ontario, there are over 500 Shoppers Drug Mart stores. Beauty BOUTIQUES™ are located in 54 stores.
- In British Columbia, Shoppers Drug Mart has grown 40 per cent to 120 stores in just three years, serving customers in new areas such as Westbank, Langley, Terrace and Kimberley.
- In Québec, Shoppers Drug Mart is known as Pharmaprix. There are now 100 Pharmaprix stores in this province. Québec also launched Pure, the sister publication to English Canada’s Glow magazine, in May of 2006.
- In the Prairies ( Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) there are over 150 Shoppers Drug Mart stores. Alberta has shown the most growth with almost 10 stores opening in 2006, all of which include Beauty BOUTIQUES™.
- In Atlantic Canada ( Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland) there are over 100 Shoppers Drug Mart stores. There are Beauty BOUTIQUES™ located in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
About Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec). With 1,000 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The Company also owns and operates 58 Shoppers Home Health Care™ stores, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to the retail store network the Company also owns MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities in Ontario and Alberta. For more information visit, www.shoppersdrugmart.ca
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For more information, please contact: Shawna Rossi or Stacey Flowers at Cohn & Wolfe. Tel: 416-924-5700 ext 4073. Email: stacey_flowers@ca.cohnwolfe.com
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