The pharmaceutical industry represents a strategic economic activity in Mexico, so investing in it, with an already proven brand, can provide a very good return. Thus, it is important to know that the amount of the investment in pharmacy franchises It varies from brand to brand, but it is possible to start with around half a million pesos.
For the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), this sector has one of the activities with the highest percentage of the Gross Value Added in terms of production. It is only behind industries as large as tobacco and the manufacturing of products based on clays and refractory minerals.
Thus, if you want to do the math, the Mexican Franchise Association (AMF) explains that, for example, the company Pharmacy requires an investment of 530 thousand pesos. Meanwhile, Healthy Pharmacy asks for 750 thousand as an initial amount and Same Pharmaciesone million.
What are the most popular pharmacy franchises?
The National Association of Pharmacies of Mexico (Anafarmex) has declared that there are 32 thousand pharmacies in Aztec land, of which approximately 13 thousand are chain pharmacies and the rest belong to entrepreneurs. In this way, the leading brands in this sector currently number 5, according to the report Pharmacies in Mexico 2022 from Dunnhumby -data science and analysis company-.
In order of preference they are: Guadalajara Pharmacies, Savings Pharmacies, Similar Pharmacies, San Pablo Pharmacies and Benavides Pharmacies. It is worth noting that Farmacias Guadalajara does not have a franchise scheme, while Farmacias del Ahorro currently manages an expansion plan with commercial premises, thus seeking to expand its presence to 1,300 branches nationwide with the rent from these.
Many brands have decided to migrate their business model towards generics, to avoid selling high-cost medications. A very important point if one considers the pandemic, which caused pockets to be greatly affected, although there continued to be a strong need to acquire medicines.
What is the Mexican market like?
The consulting firm KPMG says that Mexico is the second largest pharmaceutical market in Latin America, after Brazil, and its sales revenue, from 2016 to 2020, had a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.3%, with a value of 688,000 million pesos. The figure for 2025 is expected to grow by 4.7%, reaching the brilliant figure of 911,000 million, the above only paints a thriving scenario to which it is important to turn to see if there is talk of investing.
When allocating efforts and resources to the thriving Mexican pharmaceutical industry, it must be considered that its production mainly serves final demand (75.2%), that is, that of families and exports. The remaining percentage covers business requests for its development, explains INEGI.
It is worth noting that over time, independent pharmacies have been losing strength compared to pharmaceutical chains, although they still maintain a presence in less urbanized areas, since those initially mentioned usually lack coverage in those areas.
A better shopping experience for the user
In the middle of 2024, after the pandemic, these businesses know better the purchasing experience of their customers, who seek to feel safe about the health measures implemented and their locations, which are accessible. Likewise, they want to have a fast and good digital shopping experience.
In this way, it is important to keep in mind that currently for pharmacy customers, low prices are important, but not as important as being fair. Likewise, they seek to make their purchasing experience more comprehensive, pleasant, fast and effective, so that they can find everything they are looking for in one place, which is why over time pharmacies no longer only sell medicines, but also serve patients in their stores. facilities.
Nicole BarandiarĂ¡n With interest in discovering the world and portraying its different realities through words.