Clicks Group is a health and beauty focused retail and supply group which has been listed on the JSE Limited since 1996.
Through market-leading retail brands Clicks, Musica and The Body Shop, the group has 540 stores across southern Africa. Clicks Group is a leader in the healthcare market where Clicks has the largest retail pharmacy chain with over 240 in-store dispensaries as well as a direct-to-patient courier pharmacy service, while United Pharmaceutical Distributors (UPD) is South Africa’s leading full-range national pharmaceutical wholesaler.
Founded in 1968 by entrepreneurial retailer Jack Goldin, Clicks was conceived as a drugstore but legislation at the time prevented corporate ownership of retail pharmacies in South Africa. This meant that Clicks operated as a drugstore without drugs until legislation was changed in 2003 to allow corporate pharmacy ownership. This paved the way for Clicks to finally fulfil its founding vision and the first Clicks pharmacy was opened in Cape Town in March 2004.
UPD was acquired in January 2003 to provide the distribution capability for the group’s integrated healthcare strategy.
Clicks Group is largely a defensive business, with over 75% of group turnover in non-cyclical merchandise which has ensured continued strong growth through the current economic downturn.
The holding company name was changed in June 2009 from New Clicks Holdings back to the original name of the business, Clicks Group Limited. This coincided with the transfer of the listing from the General Retailers sector to the Food and Drug Retailers sector on the JSE Limited to reflect the increasing contribution of healthcare to the group’s earnings.