Clicks Group Limited goes back 40 years to 1968 when entrepreneurial retailer Jack Goldin opened the first Clicks store. While Clicks was originally conceived as a drugstore, regulations governing pharmacy ownership meant that it operated as a drugstore without the drugs until legislation was changed in 2003, enabling the business to fulfil its founding vision. These milestones outline the highlights of the group over the past four decades.
1968, August
First Clicks store opens in St Georges Street, Cape Town
1971, June
Clicks expands outside the Western Cape, initially to Durban and then to Johannesburg
1979, March
Clicks Stores Limited listed on the JSE with a market capitalisation of R10 million
1980, June
Group annual turnover exceeds R50 million for the first time; 31 stores
1983, June
Group turnover exceeds R100 million; 44 stores
1983, October
Clickdin Limited listed as a holding company on the JSE, with 50% of the issued share capital of Clicks Stores Limited
1984, March
Acquisition of Discom, comprising 11 stores
1987, August
Trevor Honneysett appointed managing director
1988, July
Jack Goldin sells control of the company to Score Food Group
1991, February
Group turnover exceeds R500 million; 155 stores
1991, July
Jack Goldin resigns from the board
1992, April
Acquisition of Musica, the country’s leading music retail brand, at a cost of R1.2 million
1992, July
Control of the group moves to The Premier Group Limited
1994, April
Turnover exceeds R1 billion; 330 stores
1995, August
ClubCard loyalty programme launched in the Western Cape – first of its kind in Africa
1995, November
The assets of The Clicks Group Limited are sold to a subsidiary of Malbak Limited, New Clicks Holdings Limited
1996, March
New Clicks Holdings listed on the JSE with a market capitalisation of R880 million
1996
ClubCard loyalty programme rolled out nationally in July, and in November, reaches 1 million membership
1997, April
Malbak unbundles through the distribution of its holdings to shareholders. The company has no controlling shareholder for the first time. David Nurek appointed chairman.
1997, August
Group turnover R1.9 billion; operating profit R100 million (pre-IFRS); 409 stores
1997, September
Acquisition of Compact Disc Wherehouse, a specialist music store
1998, July
New Clicks expands to Australia with the acquisition of the 70-store Priceline chain for R176.5 million from Jack Goldin
1998, August
Group turnover R2.3 billion; operating profit R132 million (pre-IFRS); 524 stores
1999, August
Group turnover R3.4 billion; operating profit R178 million (pre-IFRS); 584 stores
1999, August
Acquisition of a 30% interest in the Link Investment Trust. The stake was later increased to 56%.
2000, August
Group turnover R4.0 billion; operating profit R241 million (pre-IFRS); 628 stores
2000, December
Acquisition of House in Australia, a 66-store homeware franchise brand, for R168 million
2001, March
Acquisition of Modisons, a discount retail chain in KwaZulu-Natal, for R20 million, which was then integrated into Discom
2001, August
Group turnover R4.4 billion; operating profit R263 million (pre-IFRS); 684 stores + 68 franchise stores in Australia
2001, November
The Body Shop opens its first store in Africa, at Sandton City in Johannesburg, through a franchise agreement with The Body Shop International
2002, May
First Intercare facility opens in Lynnwood, Pretoria. The group held an 80% interest in this venture until disposing of it to the minority shareholders in March 2004.
2002, July
Acquisition of Price Attack in Australia, a speciality haircare franchise brand comprising 94 stores, for R89 million
2002, August
Group turnover R5.5 billion; operating profit R319 million (pre-IFRS); 699 stores + 177 franchise stores in Australia
2002, September
Priceline Pharmacy launched in Australia
2003, January
Acquisition of wholesale distribution company, New United Pharmaceutical Distributors (UPD) at a cost of R281 million
2003, April
Legislation passed enabling dispensaries to be introduced into Clicks stores
2003, August
Competition Tribunal grants approval for acquisition of PM&A pharmacy group
2003, August
Group turnover R7.4 billion; operating profit R334 million (pre-IFRS); 729 stores + 191 franchise stores in Australia
2004, January
New Clicks Australia sold to a consortium of private equity investors for A$107 million
2004, March
First Clicks pharmacy opens in Sea Point, Cape Town
2004, August
Group turnover R8.0 billion; operating profit R392 million (pre-IFRS); 681 stores
2005, February
Michael Harvey takes over as managing director of Clicks
2005, August
Group turnover R8.7 billion; operating profit R329 million; 663 stores
2005, September
Keith Warburton appointed as chief financial officer
2006, January
Chief executive Trevor Honneysett retires; international retail specialist David Kneale appointed as successor
2006, July
Appointment of Bertina Engelbrecht as group human resources director
2006, July
Clicks opens its 100th dispensary in Knysna
2006, August
Group turnover R10.0 billion; operating profit R393 million; 664 stores
2006, September
Clicks introduces a branded credit card as an extension of its successful ClubCard loyalty programme
2006, October
Musica Megastores launched through the conversion of CD Wherehouse stores
2007, June
UPD completes the automated extension to its ethical warehouse in Lea Glen, Gauteng
2007, August
Group turnover R10.0 billion; operating profit R494 million; 500 stores (excluding Discom)
2007, September
Sale of Discom to Edcon for net cash proceeds of R216 million
2007, September
Ralph Lorenz appointed as managing director of Musica
2008, January
UPD acquires Kalahari Medical Distributors in Botswana for approximately R5 million
2008, March
Three black female directors appointed to the board
2008, July
The 150th Clicks Pharmacy opens at Hyde Park shopping centre, Johannesburg
2008, August
Clicks celebrates its 40th birthday
2008, August
The purchase of a 60% stake in courier pharmacy, Direct Medicines, for R13.2 million is announced, expected to be effective September 2008
2009, June
New Clicks Holdings changes it's name to Clicks Group Limited, listed in Food and Drug Retailers sector on the JSE.