Super Thrifty
Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd. operates 19 community pharmacy locations across Manitoba, dispensing prescriptions, OTC products, and custom-compounded medications through a sterile compounding lab, while offering geriatric pharmacy, immunizations, and veterinary compounding to Manitoba consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersBrandon, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Super Thrifty does
Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd. is a privately held, family-rooted community pharmacy chain headquartered in Brandon, Manitoba, operating 19 retail pharmacy locations across the province under the Super Thrifty brand alongside several retained local brands including Home Health Care Pharmacy, Medical Centre Pharmacy, Mann's Pharmacy, and Rosser Pharmacy. Founded in 1977, the company has been owned and managed by pharmacist Jennifer Ludwig since 2011, who has built it into a regionally significant specialty pharmacy operator.
The company generates revenue from five primary streams: prescription dispensing (transaction fee per fill, including government-funded and private prescriptions), over-the-counter product sales, custom compounding services anchored by a purpose-built sterile compounding lab with a sterile room suite — the only such facility in Brandon and one of a handful in Manitoba — and professional services including immunizations (flu, travel, RSV, COVID-19, pneumococcal), comprehensive medication reviews with geriatric specialization, opioid dependence therapy (Suboxone/Methadone), smoking cessation prescribing, and veterinary compounding in pet-friendly flavors. Underlying technical infrastructure is conventional: an Electronic Mortar and Pestle for uniform drug distribution in compounded medications, a WordPress-based website supporting online prescription submission, transfer, and refill, and a Pharmachoice co-branded online storefront for vaccination booking.
Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer through 19 physical pharmacy locations complemented by a Perks Rewards loyalty program (15 points = $5 off purchases of $10 or more), email flyer distribution, a high-volume pharmacist-authored health-information blog, and active Facebook and Twitter presences. The company serves three primary segments: the general Manitoba public for prescription and OTC needs, older adults requiring geriatric pharmaceutical care and adherence packaging, and pet owners needing veterinary compounding — all sourced within a single Canadian province with no international footprint.
Super Thrifty firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Super Thrifty
- Legal name
- Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd.
- Website
- https://superthrifty.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd. operates 19 community pharmacy locations across Manitoba, dispensing prescriptions, OTC products, and custom-compounded medications through a sterile compounding lab, while offering geriatric pharmacy, immunizations, and veterinary compounding to Manitoba consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Super Thrifty industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Pharmacy
- NAICS
- Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110), Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611)
- SIC
- Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Discount Drugstores (Value-Focused Chain Pharmacies) (CRAEAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Discount Drugstores with Clinics (Retail Health Clinics) (CRAEAHAE), Medication Setup & Organization (Pill Boxes/Dispill/Packaging) (HSABALAB), Pharmacy & Health Essentials Delivery (CRAFAFAI)
Keywords
Where Super Thrifty is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brandon
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices15 records
Markets served
Super Thrifty business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Prescription Dispensing: Dispensing prescription medications to patients at 19 pharmacy locations across Manitoba. Revenue is generated per prescription filled, including government-funded prescriptions and private prescriptions.
- Over-the-Counter Products: Sale of OTC medications, supplements, sunscreens, first aid products, and other health and wellness products across all pharmacy locations.
- Compounding Services: Custom compounded medications for patients unable to take commercially available formulations, including topical pain compounds, bio-identical hormones, and veterinary compounded medications. Pet-friendly flavours such as apple, beef, liver, and mesquite BBQ chicken are offered.
- Immunizations and Vaccinations: Administration of seasonal influenza vaccines, travel vaccinations, RSV vaccines, pneumococcal vaccines, and COVID-19 vaccines. Services include a flu shot waiting list program and high-dose flu vaccines for older adults.
- Medication Reviews and Consultations: Comprehensive medication review services for older adults, specializing in geriatric pharmacy, to help optimize medication use and avoid drug-related issues. Smoking cessation consultations and prescribing services are also offered.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Perks Rewards loyalty program – earn points on purchases |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Super Thrifty product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd. operates a chain of 19 retail pharmacy locations across Manitoba, Canada, dispensing prescription medications and over-the-counter health and wellness products. The company provides professional pharmacy services including pharmaceutical compounding (with the only purpose-built sterile compounding lab in Brandon), immunizations and vaccinations, comprehensive medication reviews, opioid dependence therapy, geriatric pharmacy consultations, and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Operations are supported by a Perks Rewards loyalty program and online prescription management tools.
Product overview
Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd. operates a chain of pharmacy locations across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, offering prescription services, compounding (including sterile compounding), immunizations, and medication management. The company provides pharmacy services through multiple branded locations including Super Thrifty Pharmacy, Home Health Care Pharmacy, Medical Centre Pharmacy, and Super Thrifty Clinic Pharmacy. Core services include compliance packaging, prescription transfers, comprehensive medication reviews, and medication disposal. Specialized offerings include veterinary compounding with pet-friendly flavors, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, and travel vaccinations. The company also operates a Perks Rewards loyalty program. All locations operate under the unified 'Super Thrifty' brand with regional pharmacy names.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Perks Rewards: Loyalty program where customers earn points redeemable for discounts on purchases
Products and services
- Prescription Dispensing Dispensing of prescription medications to patients at 19 pharmacy locations across Manitoba, including government-funded and private prescriptions, with online submission, transfer, and refill support.
- Pharmaceutical Compounding Services Custom-made medications produced in a purpose-built sterile compounding lab (the only such facility in Brandon and one of few in Manitoba), including topical pain compounds, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, and veterinary compounds in pet-friendly flavors.
- Immunizations and Vaccinations Administration of seasonal influenza vaccines, high-dose flu vaccines for older adults, travel vaccinations, RSV, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines.
- Travel Vaccinations Dedicated travel vaccination service for customers preparing for international trips, offered across pharmacy locations.
- Comprehensive Medication Review
Quantifiable outcome
- Quitting smoking can reduce COPD mortality risk by 40% — pharmacists at Super Thrifty can prescribe smoking cessation medications
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Super Thrifty
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Super Thrifty technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Super Thrifty partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PharmachoiceminorSuper Thrifty Pharmacy maintains a presence on the Pharmachoice online shop platform (superthriftypharmacy.pharmachoice.shop/) for vaccination services including flu shot scheduling. This provides an additional digital channel for customers to access vaccination booking services.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Super Thrifty competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Costco Canada Pharmacy: Membership-warehouse pharmacy operating in Manitoba, drawing price-sensitive prescription volume away from independent and regional chains like Super Thrifty.
- Rexall: National Canadian pharmacy chain owned by McKesson, operating urban and suburban stores. Competitor for prescription capture, OTC, and immunization services in the same Manitoba catchments.
- Shoppers Drug Mart (Loblaw Companies): Canada's largest retail pharmacy chain, owned by Loblaw, with national scale, in-store clinics, and broad OTC assortment — overlapping substantially with Super Thrifty's service menu in Manitoba.
- Walmart Canada Pharmacy: Mass retailer with in-store pharmacies in Manitoba, competing primarily on convenience and price for prescription and OTC volume.
Direct peers
- Remedy's Rx: Canadian independent pharmacy network focused on personalized care and clinical services — closely comparable service mix to Super Thrifty, including compounding-adjacent services.
- Pharmachoice: Canadian cooperative of independent pharmacies that provides procurement, marketing, and digital tools. Super Thrifty is a member and uses the Pharmachoice online shop for vaccine booking, making it a direct channel/operating peer.
- I.D.A. Pharmacy: Canadian independent pharmacy banner under McKesson, with similar store size and service profile; competes with Super Thrifty for independent-pharmacy affiliations in Manitoba.
- Pharmasave: National Canadian cooperative of independent community pharmacies with comparable store count and clinical-service positioning. Closest direct peer in business model (independent banner, compounding, medication reviews).
- Guardian Pharmacy: Canadian independent pharmacy banner with comparable clinical-service emphasis and store-level autonomy, competing for the same independent-pharmacy customer base.
Regional players
- London Drugs: Western Canadian retailer with pharmacy departments in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Directly competes in Manitoba for general merchandise + pharmacy basket share.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Super Thrifty social profiles
Digital presenceSuper Thrifty financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Super Thrifty leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Super Thrifty subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Super Thrifty funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Super Thrifty M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Super Thrifty
What does Super Thrifty do?
Super Thrifty Drugs Canada Ltd. operates a chain of 19 retail pharmacy locations across Manitoba, Canada, dispensing prescription medications and over-the-counter health and wellness products. The company provides professional pharmacy services including pharmaceutical compounding (with the only purpose-built sterile compounding lab in Brandon), immunizations and vaccinations, comprehensive medication reviews, opioid dependence therapy, geriatric pharmacy consultations, and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Operations are supported by a Perks Rewards loyalty program and online prescription management tools.
Is Super Thrifty a public or private company?
Super Thrifty is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Super Thrifty founded?
Super Thrifty was founded in 1977. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Super Thrifty based?
Super Thrifty is headquartered in Brandon, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Super Thrifty make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Prescription Dispensing is the primary driver. The others are over-the-Counter Products, compounding Services, immunizations and Vaccinations and medication Reviews and Consultations.
Who are Super Thrifty's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Costco Canada Pharmacy, Rexall, Shoppers Drug Mart (Loblaw Companies) and Walmart Canada Pharmacy. Direct peers are Remedy's Rx, Pharmachoice, I.D.A. Pharmacy, Pharmasave and Guardian Pharmacy. London Drugs is listed as a regional player.
Does Super Thrifty have an API?
No public API is recorded for Super Thrifty.
What industry is Super Thrifty in?
Super Thrifty's product category is Retail Pharmacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAEAHAA, Discount Drugstores (Value-Focused Chain Pharmacies), with a secondary code of CRAEAHAE, Discount Drugstores with Clinics (Retail Health Clinics). Its NAICS code is 456110 and its SIC code is 5912.