This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
October 2, 2019, marked a significant milestone for Haltons Pharmacy, a local drugstore chain in Kenya, as it embarked on an ambitious expansion plan. By the end of the year, the company aims to double its branch count to 30.
Since its Sh500 million buyout by Ghanaian tech firm mPharma in March, the company has made significant strides in its expansion efforts. As of now, mPharma has opened six additional stores, bringing the total number of branches to 23.
Founder of mPharma, Greg Rockson, revealed that the company plans to set up more outlets across the country by the end of the year. This expansion drive is expected to create 30 new job opportunities, taking the workforce to around 85 employees.
According to Mr. Rockson, the company's decision to acquire Haltons was motivated by the pharmacy chain's presence in underserved neighborhoods. He stated, 'What motivated us to buy Haltons, the second biggest pharmacy chain in Kenya, is that you will find their branches in neighbourhoods that are underserved. It is unlike other pharmacy chains that position themselves in upmarket neighbourhoods in Kenya.'
Mr. Rockson's vision for Haltons is to build it into the biggest pharmacy chain in Kenya. To achieve this, the company will continue to invest millions of dollars into the business. mPharma's system is currently used by over 250 pharmacies in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
