Accelerating Drugstore Openings and Improving Profitability
First written in FY2016. 26 of 38 entries say "Advanced", first in FY2017-Q1. Latest entry: 2026-10-13.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2025: 3 of 31 companies on the "Worse" side.
0 other companies' latest entry also says "Worsened".
- FY2026Recovery in the Second Half, Full-Year Profit DeclineAnnual report
「However, profitability declined because personnel expenses associated with new hires and store-opening costs rose ahead of revenue growth. Accordingly, from September 2025 we have been pursuing structural reforms, including streamlining headquarters, strengthening frontline management, reforming merchandising, improving inventory management and reducing food waste. The recovery trend has emerged in the second half, when operating profit turned to a 6.9% year-on-year increase.」
Full-year operating profit fell 5.8% year on year, but turned to a 6.9% increase in the second half due to organisational and merchandising reforms implemented from September 2025. Progress in and challenges to improving profitability were presented together. - FY2026-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「Revenue from the drugstore business was ¥92,484 million, up 3.9% year on year, and operating profit was ¥1,586 million, down 25.1%. …Revenue increased but profit declined because we were unable to absorb higher selling, general and administrative expenses, including personnel expenses and facility costs associated with expanding new-store openings.」
The number of stores increased to 555 and the number offering pharmacy services to 222, including through 21 new openings. However, higher personnel and facility costs associated with new-store openings put pressure on profitability. - FY2025-H1WorsenedAnnual report
「Revenue from the drugstore business was ¥89,024 million, up 4.3% year on year, and operating profit was ¥2,116 million, down 22.2%. …Revenue increased but profit declined because selling, general and administrative expenses, including personnel expenses and store opening and renovation costs, increased. In addition, we opened 14 stores, including 3 acquired from 株式会社トーホーストア, bringing the number of stores to 521 at the end of the interim period, including 187 offering pharmacy services.」
Expansion into Kansai, the opening of 14 stores and growth in the number offering pharmacy services to 187 progressed, but operating profit declined 22.2% due to higher opening and renovation costs and personnel expenses. - FY2024-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 10 stores and closed 3, bringing the number of stores to 502 as of the end of the third quarter, including 170 offering pharmacy services.」
Opened 10 drugstores and closed 3, increasing the total to 502 stores and the number offering pharmacy services to 170. Same-store sales increased 5.1% year on year through the addition of pharmacies and pricing measures, while operating profit increased 23.3%. - FY2024-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 7 stores and closed 2, bringing the number of stores to 500 as of the end of the second quarter, including 166 offering pharmacy services. …Existing-store sales increased 5.9% year on year as we promoted renovations to add pharmacies and improve convenience. Revenue and profit increased as lower selling, general and administrative expenses resulting from more efficient store operations, including the launch of a new automated ordering system, offset other factors.」
The drugstore network expanded to 500 stores, including 166 offering pharmacy services. Same-store sales increased 5.9% and operating profit increased 28.5% through the addition of pharmacies, pricing measures and the new automated ordering system. - FY2024-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 3 stores and closed 2, bringing the number of stores to 496 as of the end of the first quarter, including 159 offering pharmacy services. …In June, we opened V・drug Yanagase Store (Gifu, Gifu) in Yanagase Grassle 35, a redevelopment building in the centre of the city. It is the first urban-format store in Gifu Prefecture to offer prepared foods and bento made in-store.」
Opened 3 drugstores, increasing the total to 496 stores and the number offering pharmacy services to 159. Opened the first urban-format store in Gifu Prefecture and strengthened healthcare, beauty, pharmacy and in-store prepared-food offerings. - FY2023AdvancedAnnual report
「Revenue from the drugstore business was ¥160,947 million, up 5.6% year on year, and operating profit was ¥4,317 million, up 46.3%. …The number of stores reached 495, including 157 offering pharmacy services.」
Achieved 495 stores, including 157 offering pharmacy services, and a 46.3% increase in operating profit through attached pharmacies, cost improvements and the digitalisation of promotional activities. - FY2023-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we acquired 有限会社なぎさ薬局, which operates pharmacies, as a subsidiary. Including its 1 store, we opened 20 stores and closed 4, bringing the number of stores to 494 as of the end of the third quarter, including 155 offering pharmacy services.」
Opened 20 stores, including through the acquisition of なぎさ薬局, expanding the network to 494 drugstores and 155 stores offering pharmacy services. Operating profit also increased 49.1% year on year due to strong pharmacy sales, cost improvements and the digitalisation of promotional activities. - FY2023-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 17 stores and closed 3, bringing the number of stores to 492 as of the end of the second quarter, including 153 stores offering pharmacy services.」
Opened 17 drugstores and closed 3, increasing the total to 492 stores and the number offering pharmacy services to 153. Operating profit increased 27.0% year on year due to sales growth in the pharmacy and cosmetics divisions, cost improvements and the digitalisation of promotional methods. - FY2023-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 13 stores and closed 1, bringing the number of stores to 490 as of the end of the first quarter, including 149 stores offering pharmacy services.」
Opened 13 drugstores, increasing the total to 490 stores and the number offering pharmacy services to 149. Operating profit increased 25.2% year on year, partly due to a higher gross margin resulting from cost improvements and other factors. - FY2022-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In this business, we acquired 有限会社つるまる and 株式会社オフィス澤田, which operate pharmacies, as subsidiaries in May 2021. Including the 2 stores of the two companies, we opened 35 stores and closed 8, bringing the group total to 476 stores as of the end of the third quarter, including 136 stores offering pharmacy services.」
The number of stores and the number offering pharmacy services expanded through acquisitions and store openings. However, operating profit fell below the prior-year level due to higher opening costs and personnel expenses, as well as a decline from the prior year in sales of sanitary products and other items. - FY2022-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「In this business, we acquired 有限会社つるまる and 株式会社オフィス澤田, which operate pharmacies, as subsidiaries in May 2021. Including the 2 stores of the two companies, we opened 22 stores and closed 8, bringing the group total to 463 stores as of the end of the second quarter, including 128 stores offering pharmacy services. Operating profit was affected by higher opening costs and personnel expenses.」
The store network and the number of stores offering pharmacy services expanded through acquisitions and store openings. However, operating profit fell below the prior-year level due to higher opening costs and personnel expenses, creating adverse factors for improving profitability. - FY2022-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In this business, we acquired 有限会社つるまる and 株式会社オフィス澤田, which operate pharmacies, as subsidiaries in May 2021. Including the 2 stores of the two companies, we opened 12 stores and closed 4, bringing the group total to 457 stores as of the end of the first quarter, including 126 stores offering pharmacy services.」
The store network and the number of stores offering pharmacy services expanded, including through the acquisitions of つるまる and オフィス澤田. However, operating profit fell below the prior-year level due to lower same-store sales and higher opening costs. - FY2021WorsenedAnnual report
「In this business, we acquired 有限会社アオイ薬局 as a subsidiary in October 2020, opened 40 stores including its 2 stores, and closed 7, bringing the group total to 449 stores as of the end of the consolidated fiscal year, including 123 stores offering pharmacy services.」
The number of stores increased to 449 and the number offering pharmacy services to 123 through store openings and M&A. However, operating profit fell 7.9% year on year to ¥3,978 million due to sluggish sales growth in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and a decline in the gross margin. - FY2021-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「Under the EDLP policy pursued since the previous fiscal year, we worked to maintain and improve competitiveness by using savings from reducing promotional flyers to enhance price competitiveness, particularly for consumables.」
Continued the EDLP policy and cost savings from reducing promotional flyers, raising price competitiveness mainly for consumables. The number of stores reached 442, including 121 offering pharmacy services, and operating profit increased 23.2% year on year. - FY2021-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 18 stores and closed 2 related to relocations, bringing the group total to 432 stores as of the end of the second quarter, including 115 stores offering pharmacy services.」
Opened 18 drugstores, increasing the total to 432 stores and the number offering pharmacy services to 115. Alongside EDLP and stronger price competitiveness, we worked to expand the business and improve profitability by improving products and functions at existing stores. - FY2021-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「Under the EDLP policy pursued since the previous fiscal year, we worked to maintain and improve competitiveness by using savings from measures such as reducing the use of promotional flyers to enhance price competitiveness, particularly for consumables.」
Under the EDLP policy, savings from reducing promotional flyers were redirected toward price competitiveness. Opened 6 stores, while same-store sales increased 7.2% and operating profit increased 36.6%. - FY2020AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, 有限会社ひだ薬局, which operates dispensing pharmacies in Gifu Prefecture, became a subsidiary in July 2019, followed by 有限会社サンファーマシー in December. Including the 8 stores operated by the 2 companies, 42 stores were opened and 5 in total, including 4 subject to scrap-and-build, were closed, bringing the group's total to 416 stores as of the end of the consolidated fiscal year, including 107 stores offering dispensing services.」
Expanded the drugstore network to 416 stores and the number of stores offering pharmacy services to 107 through store openings and M&A. - FY2020-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, 有限会社ひだ薬局, which operates dispensing pharmacies in Gifu Prefecture, became a subsidiary in July 2019, followed by 有限会社サンファーマシー in December 2019. Including the 8 stores operated by the 2 companies, 34 stores were opened and 4 in total, including 3 subject to scrap-and-build, were closed, bringing the group's total to 409 stores as of the end of the third quarter, including 105 stores offering dispensing services.」
Opened 34 drugstores and closed 4, expanding the network to 409 stores and the number of stores offering pharmacy services to 105, including through the acquisitions of ひだ薬局 and サンファーマシー as subsidiaries. - FY2020-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we acquired 有限会社ひだ薬局, which operates pharmacies in Gifu, as a subsidiary in July 2019. Including its 7 stores, we opened 25 stores and closed a total of 3, including 2 related to relocations, bringing the group total to 401 stores as of the end of the second quarter, including 100 stores offering pharmacy services.」
Opened 25 stores, including the 7 stores of ひだ薬局, expanding the drugstore network to 401 stores and the number of stores offering pharmacy services to 100. Operating profit also increased 30.1% year on year. - FY2020-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 8 stores and closed a total of 3, including 2 related to relocations, bringing the number of stores to 384 as of the end of the first quarter, including 41 specialist pharmacy stores and 49 stores with an attached pharmacy.」
Opened 8 drugstores and closed 3, including relocations. The number of stores reached 384, while same-store sales increased 6.4% and operating profit increased 55.3%. - FY2019AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 26 stores mainly in Aichi and Gifu prefectures and closed a total of 8, including 4 related to relocations, bringing the number of stores to 379 as of the end of the consolidated fiscal year, including 38 specialist pharmacy stores and 49 stores with an attached pharmacy. We developed stores to suit the characteristics of their trade areas, carrying out renovations to add functions such as attached pharmacies at stores serving larger populations. To diversify payment methods and prepare for future expansion in urban areas, in March 2019 we introduced seven companies' QR-code payment services at all stores except specialist pharmacy stores.」
Opened 26 drugstores, increasing the total to 379. Improved convenience and specialist capabilities by adding attached pharmacies, renovating stores to add functions and introducing QR-code payments. - FY2019-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 25 stores mainly in Aichi and Gifu prefectures and closed a total of 7, including 4 related to relocations, bringing the number of stores to 379 as of the end of the third quarter, including 38 specialist pharmacy stores. Before enlarging the SMバロー store located on the same site, we relocated and opened V・drug Iwamura Store (Ena, Gifu) in April 2018. In July, we relocated and enlarged 3 stores in total, including V・drug Nisshin Sakae Store (Nisshin, Aichi), expanding the range of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other products.」
Opened 25 drugstores and advanced relocations, store enlargements and assortment improvements. Operating profit increased 35.6% year on year. - FY2019-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 18 stores mainly in Aichi and Gifu prefectures and closed a total of 6, including 4 related to relocations, bringing the number of stores to 373 as of the end of the second quarter. Before enlarging the SMバロー store located on the same site, we relocated and opened V・drug Iwamura Store (Ena, Gifu) in April 2018. In July, we relocated and enlarged 3 stores in total, including V・drug Nisshin Sakae Store (Nisshin, Aichi), expanding the range of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other products.」
Opened 18 drugstores and closed 6, including relocations, bringing the total to 373. Relocations, store enlargements and broader assortments also progressed, and operating profit increased 18.3% year on year. - FY2019-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「To strengthen our specialist capabilities, we worked to increase sales of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics requiring counselling, improving merchandise presentation and customer service skills. We also gradually expanded automated ordering to create more time for customer service, and are switching all departments, except for certain categories, to automated ordering.」
We strengthened expertise and customer service in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics and expanded automated ordering to all departments except for certain categories. Same-store sales increased 2.8%, and operating profit in the business increased 4.0%. - FY2018WorsenedAnnual report
「In this business, we sought to attract more customers by improving convenience and strengthen our specialist capabilities. We renovated 30 stores, opened 27 stores mainly in Gifu and Aichi prefectures, and closed 3, bringing the number of stores to 361 as of the end of the consolidated fiscal year. Stores opened from the previous fiscal year through the current fiscal year contributed, but revenue and profit declined because we were unable to absorb higher personnel expenses and new-store opening costs.」
Openings and renovations progressed, but personnel expenses and new-store opening costs could not be absorbed. Revenue from the drugstore business increased 10.2%, while operating profit fell 6.0%. - FY2018-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「The business sought to attract more customers by improving convenience and strengthen its specialist offering. In addition to renovating 22 stores, it opened 24 stores and closed 3, mainly in Aichi and Gifu prefectures, bringing the store count to 358 as of the end of the third quarter.」
Opened 24 drugstores and renovated 22, increasing the total to 358 stores. However, even after revising our pricing policy, the measures did not reduce the expense ratio sufficiently, and improving profitability remains an ongoing issue. - FY2018-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「To strengthen store competitiveness, the company renovated 15 stores and continued opening stores at a high rate, including 13 new stores mainly in Aichi and Gifu prefectures. The store count stood at 350 as of the end of the second quarter.」
Opened 13 drugstores and renovated 15, increasing the total to 350 stores. - FY2018-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「In this business, we opened 6 stores mainly in Gifu and Aichi prefectures, bringing the number of stores to 343 as of the end of the first quarter. To further strengthen existing stores, we renovated 10 stores. At V・drug Shiroyama Store (Owariasahi, Aichi), which was renovated in June 2017, we introduced a prepared-food section operated by 中部フーズ株式会社, which handles in-store production and sales.」
Opened 6 drugstores and renovated 10. We also introduced in-store production and sales of prepared foods, expanding the business and strengthening existing stores. - FY2017AdvancedAnnual report
「We expanded our store network mainly in Aichi and Gifu prefectures, opening 40 stores and closing 4, bringing the number of stores to 337 as of the end of the consolidated fiscal year. In addition to the high pace of openings, we renovated a total of 21 stores, including 3 enlarged stores created through relocations and scrap-and-build projects, to further strengthen our competitiveness.」
Opened 40 drugstores and renovated 21, expanding the scale of the business and strengthening its competitiveness. - FY2017-Q3AdvancedAnnual report
「We expanded our store network mainly in Aichi and Gifu prefectures, opening 32 stores and closing 1, bringing the number of stores to 332 as of the end of the third quarter. In addition to the high pace of openings, we renovated a total of 18 stores, including 2 enlarged stores created through relocations and scrap-and-build projects, to further strengthen our competitiveness.」
Opened 32 stores and renovated 18, expanding the scale and strengthening the competitiveness of the drugstore business. Despite the continued impact of revisions to medical service fees and other factors, revenue and profit increased on sales of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. - FY2017-Q2AdvancedAnnual report
「We expanded our store network mainly in Aichi and Gifu prefectures, opening 22 stores and closing 1, bringing the number of stores to 322 as of the end of the second quarter. In addition to the high pace of openings, we renovated 14 stores and expanded their chilled and frozen food assortments.」
Opened 22 drugstores and renovated 14 stores, increasing the total to 322. The pharmacy division reported higher revenue but lower profit due to drug price cuts and other factors. - FY2017-Q1AdvancedAnnual report
「The company opened 11 new stores, mainly in areas where it already operates, particularly Aichi Prefecture, bringing the number of stores to 312 as of the end of the first quarter.」
The number of stores increased to 312 as openings accelerated. However, operating profit in the pharmacy division fell 12.9% year on year due to the impact of revisions to medical service fees and other factors. - FY2016First statedAnnual report
「In the drugstore business, we will accelerate the pace of store openings to expand the scale of the business and improve profitability over the medium term.」
The business is being expanded by combining a broad food assortment, pharmacy services, ID-POS data and a professional counselling system.