What Clicks Group does

Clicks Group Limited is a JSE-listed (since 1996) South African retailer founded in 1968 in Cape Town, operating an integrated retail-pharmacy-pharmaceutical wholesale platform anchored by the Clicks chain of over 1,003 stores and 795 pharmacies across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, and Lesotho. The Group's product surface spans front-shop health, beauty, baby, and personal care categories, prescription pharmacy dispensing, and specialised formats including UniCare 24-hour pharmacies, Clicks Baby standalone stores, franchised Sorbet beauty salons, and exclusive franchises of The Body Shop, GNC, and Claire's.

The Group is vertically integrated through UPD (United Pharmaceutical Distributors), South Africa's only full-line pharmaceutical wholesaler, which operates five national distribution hubs, an SAP-based warehouse management system, and a fleet of 85 zero-emission pharma-compliant electric delivery vehicles; UPD supplies Clicks' own pharmacies (58.4% of wholesale turnover), private hospital groups including Netcare (36.2%), and 20 bulk distribution manufacturer clients. Underlying technology includes the LEAP Pharmacy Management System deployed across 715+ pharmacies, an omni-channel e-commerce platform with 24,400+ SKUs, and the ClubCard loyalty platform (12.9 million active members) that contributed 83.7% of Clicks sales in H1 FY2026.

Clicks monetises through direct retail sales (front shop and prescription), private label and exclusive brands (26.5% of total sales), franchise royalties and product supply (Sorbet, The Body Shop, GNC, Claire's), and pharmaceutical wholesale fees from third-party customers. End customers are middle-to-upper-income South African consumers (LSM 6-10) for retail, plus private hospitals, independent pharmacies, and dispensing doctors on the wholesale side. FY2025 group turnover reached R47.8 billion (up 5.3%), H1 FY2026 accelerated to 7.4% growth, and ROE stood at 49.2% (FY2025) and 45.7% (H1 FY2026).

Name

Clicks Group

Legal name

Clicks Group Limited

Website

https://clicksgroup.co.za

Company type

Public

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Clicks Group Limited is a JSE-listed South African health, beauty and wellness retailer operating over 1,000 Clicks stores and 795 pharmacies, vertically integrated with UPD, South Africa's only full-line pharmaceutical wholesaler, serving mass-market consumers and institutional healthcare customers across southern Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Pharmacy

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Pharmacy-Led Health & Wellness Discount Retail (CRAEAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent) (HLAFALAA), Value Pharmacies & Deep-Discount Pharmacy Retail (CRAEAHAB), Health, Wellness & Pharmacy Online Retailers (CRAFADAG)

Keywords

• Retail pharmacy chain
• Pharmaceutical wholesale
• Health and beauty retail
• Loyalty programme
• Generic medicines dispensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales (Clicks, Sorbet, UniCare, The Body Shop corporate stores): Physical retail sales through over 1,003 Clicks stores, 795 pharmacies, Sorbet salons, UniCare 24-hour pharmacies and The Body Shop standalone stores. Includes front shop (health, beauty, personal care, baby, general merchandise) and pharmacy/prescription sales. Private label and exclusive brands account for ~26.5% of total sales. Online sales contributed 4.4% of retail sales.
2. Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution (UPD): UPD distributes pharmaceutical products to Clicks pharmacies, private hospital groups, independent pharmacies, and retail health stores. UPD is South Africa's only full-line pharmaceutical wholesaler. Revenue includes fine wholesale and bulk distribution (preferred supplier) contracts. UPD managed total turnover of R30.5 billion (wholesale plus bulk distribution).
3. Franchise Royalties (The Body Shop, Sorbet): The Body Shop operates under a franchise agreement with The Body Shop International (products sold exclusively in ~250 Clicks stores and 53 stand-alone stores). Sorbet is a franchise chain (190 franchised + 14 company-owned salons). Clicks receives royalties/fees from franchise operations.
4. Loyalty Rewards / ClubCard: Clicks ClubCard loyalty programme with 12.9 million active members. Loyalty members contributed 83.7% of Clicks sales. R527 million in cashback rewards paid to members in H1 FY2026. The programme drives customer retention and higher basket size.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clicks Group is South Africa's leading health, beauty and wellness retailer and largest retail pharmacy chain, operating over 1,003 stores and 795 in-store pharmacies selling prescription medicines, front-shop health/beauty/personal-care/baby products, and an extensive private-label and exclusive-brand assortment. Through its wholly owned UPD subsidiary, the group also operates South Africa's only full-line pharmaceutical wholesaler, distributing medicines to its own Clicks pharmacies, private hospital groups, independent pharmacies and dispensing doctors. Supporting the retail and wholesale operations are the Clicks ClubCard loyalty programme with 12.9 million active members, an omni-channel e-commerce platform with click-and-collect and home delivery, and franchise partnerships with The Body Shop, GNC and Claire's.

Product overview

Clicks Group operates a multi-brand retail pharmacy and health and beauty platform. The anchor brand Clicks is South Africa's leading pharmacy and health and beauty retailer with over 1,000 stores and 790 pharmacies. The portfolio includes Clicks Baby (specialized baby products), The Body Shop (franchise), Sorbet (beauty salon chain - acquired), UniCare (24-hour pharmacy), and UPD (pharmaceutical wholesaler). Supporting services include Clicks ClubCard loyalty programme (12.9M members), Clicks Direct Medicines delivery, and franchise brands GNC and Claire's. Private label brands (Pay Less, Safeway, Made4Baby, Oh So Heavenly, Sorbet) contribute over 26% of group sales. The Group listed on JSE since 1996 with operations across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ClubCard: Africa's first and South Africa's largest loyalty programme with 12.9 million active members
• UniCare
• Sorbet Man
• Candi & Co

Products and services

• Clicks Retail Stores and Pharmacies South Africa's leading retail pharmacy chain, operating over 1,003 stores and 795 in-store pharmacies selling prescription medicines, OTC pharmacy items, health, beauty, personal care, baby and general merchandise to middle- and upper-income (LSM 6-10) consumers. Includes convenience and destination store formats across South Africa and neighbouring countries.
• UPD Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution South Africa's only full-line pharmaceutical wholesaler, distributing medicines to Clicks pharmacies, private hospital groups (36.2% of wholesale turnover), independent pharmacies and dispensing doctors. Operates 5 national distribution hubs and an automated pharmaceutical warehouse with ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and ISAE3402 certifications. Managed turnover of R30.5 billion in FY2025 and 26.2% wholesale market share.
• Clicks Baby Specialised mother and baby product retail format offering baby hardware, accessories, health, foods, diapers, wipes and baby toiletries. Includes 6 standalone Clicks Baby stores and store-in-store concepts in the Clicks network, with its own dedicated Baby Club within ClubCard.
• Sorbet Beauty Salons South Africa's largest professional beauty salon franchise chain with 209 outlets operating under Sorbet (all-round beauty therapy), Sorbet Man (male grooming) and Candi & Co (ethnic haircare) brands. Sorbet products are sold in Clicks stores and the salons also offer beauty therapy services.
• The Body Shop (South Africa Franchise) Global naturally-inspired beauty brand marketed in South Africa exclusively through Clicks under franchise arrangement with The Body Shop International. Products sold in approximately 250 Clicks stores and 53 stand-alone The Body Shop stores targeting middle to upper income consumers.
• UniCare 24-Hour Pharmacy Specialised 24-hour pharmacy format offering dispensing services as well as diabetic clinic, travel clinic and wounds management practice. Acquired as M-Kem and rebranded UniCare; extends Clicks' around-the-clock pharmacy offering.
• Clicks ClubCard Loyalty Programme Africa's first retail loyalty programme with 12.9 million active members; contributes 83.7% of Clicks sales. Includes dedicated Baby Club (745,500 members) and Seniors Club (1.6 million members), 14 affinity partners, and a mobile app with virtual ClubCard.
• Clicks Direct Medicines Courier Delivery Nationwide courier delivery service for medicines directly to patients, operating from 31 store hubs to facilitate efficient medicine delivery within South African communities.
• Clicks Online Shopping Platform Omni-channel e-commerce store listing over 24,400 health, beauty, pharmacy, baby and general merchandise products with click-and-collect and home delivery across South Africa. Online sales contributed 4.4% of retail sales in H1 FY2026, up 23% year-on-year.
• GNC Health Supplements (in-store franchise) Global health and wellness supplements brand offered in South Africa exclusively through over 680 Clicks stores under franchise arrangement with GNC.
• Claire's Accessories (in-store franchise) International accessories brand for young women and girls, available in Clicks stores under exclusive franchise arrangement in South Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• Group turnover increased 7.4% to R24.9 billion in H1 FY2026
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sorbet Holdings Proprietary LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Clicks Group acquired 100% of Sorbet Holdings for R105 million in 2023, gaining full ownership of the largest professional beauty salon franchise chain in South Africa (190+ outlets). Clicks previously held a 25% stake through Sorbet Brands. Sorbet operates under Sorbet (beauty therapy), Sorbet Man (male grooming) and Candi & Co (ethnic haircare) brands. Sorbet products are sold in Clicks stores and the chain enhances Clicks' beauty destination positioning.
• M-Kem / UniCarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Clicks acquired M-Kem (renamed UniCare), a well-established all-hours specialised pharmacy in Cape Town including diabetic clinic, travel clinic and wounds management practice. Extends Clicks' 24-hour pharmacy offering. Second UniCare 24-hour pharmacy opened November 2025.
• Transnet Phelophepa Health TrainscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Clicks Helping Hand Trust (CHHT) sponsors Transnet's Phelophepa Health Trains for their second year of collaboration. These mobile healthcare units served over 697,000 patients in remote areas of South Africa in 2024, offering optometry, dentistry, psychology, primary healthcare and psychosocial interventions.
• Netcare GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Long-term outsourcing agreement concluded with Netcare Group in 2017. Clicks opened stores in 41 Netcare hospitals and manages pharmacies in 30 Medicross and dental centres, extending pharmacy presence into healthcare facilities.
• Claire's (South Africa)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2015Claire's, the international accessories brand for young women and girls, launched in Clicks through an exclusive franchise agreement. Available in Clicks stores.
• GNC (South Africa)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2014GNC, a global leader in health and wellness supplements, launched in South Africa through an exclusive franchise agreement with Clicks. GNC products are offered in over 680 Clicks' stores, differentiating Clicks' health and wellness offering.
• The Body Shop InternationalcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2001The Body Shop franchise agreement signed in 2001. Clicks Group operates The Body Shop in South Africa under an exclusive franchise arrangement with The Body Shop International. Products sold exclusively in approximately 250 Clicks stores and 53 stand-alone stores. The brand markets naturally-inspired beauty products focusing on middle to upper income groups with community-traded ingredients.
• ARC StoresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClicks has an equity investment and affinity partnership with ARC stores, a premium beauty retail format providing access to the premium beauty customer segment.
• UPD Bulk Distribution ClientsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUPD manages distribution for 20 pharmaceutical manufacturer bulk distribution clients. These clients use UPD's national distribution network and systems (ERP and WMS) for their products. UPD's large-scale systems implementation was completed for seven bulk distribution clients.
• UN Women / UN Global CompactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClicks Group participates in the UN Women Empowerment Principles and UN Global Compact, aligning ESG practices with UN SDGs. Scored 89% in UN Women assessment.
• EmpowerlogicminorOthersIndependent accredited rating agency engaged to conduct annual review of Clicks Group's BBBEE status.
• SA Plastics Pact / PROs / Endangered Wildlife TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClicks Group is a founding member of the SA Plastics Pact and contributes to producer responsibility organisations (PROs) for packaging recycling. Also partnered with Endangered Wildlife Trust for Biodiversity Readiness Assessment.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CVS Health: US pharmacy-led health services giant combining drugstores, PBM and insurance. Relevant comparable for Clicks' strategic question of expanding into broader healthcare services beyond dispensing.
• Shoprite Holdings: Africa's largest food retailer, operates in-store Medirite pharmacies across South Africa. Competes with Clicks for share of pharmacy dispensing and household health baskets, particularly in value-oriented formats; not as deep in beauty/personal care.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance: Global pharmacy retail and wholesale giant (parent of Alliance Boots, where Clicks CFO Gordon Traill previously worked). Comparable integrated retail-pharmacy-wholesale model; benchmark for international expansion of pharmacy-led retail.
• Boots (Walgreens Boots Alliance UK): UK-based health and beauty retailer comparable to Clicks' beauty/pharmacy model. Relevant peer for international benchmarks on private label penetration, loyalty (Advantage Card), and beauty category leadership.
• Pick n Pay Stores: South African grocery retailer operating in-store pharmacies within supermarkets. Overlaps with Clicks on pharmacy dispensing and basic health/personal care, but lacks Clicks' dedicated pharmacy network and beauty franchise brand portfolio.
• SPAR Group Limited: South African grocery and pharmacy group operating through independent retailers, with a growing pharmacy and personal care offering. Competes with Clicks on convenience grocery and basic pharmacy SKUs but lacks scale in dedicated pharmacy/beauty.

Direct peers

• Dis-Chem Pharmacies: Dis-Chem is South Africa's second-largest retail pharmacy chain and Clicks' principal direct competitor, operating an overlapping store network with in-store pharmacies, private label, loyalty programme and click-and-collect e-commerce. Direct head-to-head competition across retail pharmacy, baby, personal care and beauty categories.
• Medicare Pharmacy Group: Independent community pharmacy group and UPD customer. Operates as a wholesale-buyer competitor to Clicks' vertically integrated model; represents part of the consolidating independent pharmacy base that UPD serves.

Regional players

• Woolworths Holdings: South African premium food and fashion retailer; competes in the upper-income segment with Clicks' LSM 8-10 customers on beauty, baby and personal care. Operates in-store clinics and pharmacy services adjacent to Clicks' UniCare and elevated beauty halls.

Emerging players

• Watsons (A.S. Watson Group): Asian health and beauty retailer expanding into South Africa. Direct competitor in skincare, haircare and personal care categories where Clicks holds leadership shares; emerging threat in premium beauty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clicks Group