Target develops French pharmacy solution

Target stores in the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec will feature pharmacies under the Brunet banner based on an agreement reached with the McMahon Distributeur pharmaceutique division of Canadian food and drug retailer Metro, Inc.

The agreement comes as Target is preparing to open the first of 25 stores this fall in Quebec. Target entered Canada earlier this year and plans to open a total of 124 stores in its first year of operation.

Under the agreement with Target, McMahon, which is the franchisor of the Brunet banner, will enter into agreements with pharmacist-owners who will own and operate pharmacies within Target stores across Quebec. McMahon will provide supply chain and inventory services as well as all the operational support to the Brunet franchised pharmacist-owners. The in-store pharmacies will carry Target owned brands and provide access to prescription, pharmacy and health consultation services that are a key element of the Target store experience.

"Brunet's reputation as a leader in promoting patient health and well-being, combined with its specialized product offering, makes Brunet the ideal strategic partner to help us deliver outstanding patient care in Quebec,” said Target Canada president Tony Fisher.

According to Eric R. La Fleche, president and CEO of Brunet owner Metro, Inc., the agreement with Target expands the banner’s presence to 18 pharmacies, including 12 in the greater Montreal area, and brings the total number of Brunet locations to 168.

Those locations are part of Metro’s 250 unit drug store division that also includes banners The Pharmacy and Drug Basics. In addition to those locations, Metro operates roughly 600 food stores in Quebec and Ontario under the Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics banners that generated sales last year of $11 billion.

Target currently operates 68 stores in Canada, 62 of which contain a pharmacy.