Dona drugstore network, a market leader in pharmaceutical retail, posted turnover worth 39 million euros nine months into the year, up 198% against last year, while profit reached 0.5 million euros, up 178% on 2006.
"The increase was due to the rise in the number of drugstores, the consolidation of new drugstores, the decentralisation of National Health Programmes, the transfer to private drugstores of post-transplant, oncological and insulin drugs, more effective acquisition policies and the overall growth of the pharmaceutical market," stated Razvan Nidelea, the company's national sales manager.
He added that both registered turnover and profit are within the levels budgeted for 2007. For this year, Dona has budgeted revenues worth 41 million euros, and a 1.5% profit rate.
"15% of overall turnover is derived from sales of dermocosmetics (specialised skin care cosmetics), and next year, we estimate an approximately 2% sales increase," said Nidelea.
Currently, Dona operates 85 drugstores, up from 60 at the beginning of the year. The company's investments in expansion stood at 8 million euros, and went towards the acquisition of new licences, and fitting out the stores.
For 2008, Dona targets turnover worth 65 million euros, profit worth 1.35 million euros, and intends to expand its network by 125 drugstores.
"The budget allocated for setting up these drugstores amounts to 7 million euros, and the expansion will almost exclusively target cities outside Bucharest, with investments aimed at acquiring new licences, and fitting-out stores," added Nidelea.
Most of the time, the network expansion of drugstores occurs when new licences are acquired, because the establishment of drugstores is restricted based on demographic criteria. Bucharest, for example, may have no more than one drugstore per every 3,000 inhabitants, according to
