Societa Cooperativa Farmaceutica

What Societa Cooperativa Farmaceutica does

Società Cooperativa Farmaceutica is a mutual-benefit cooperative founded in Milan in 1890 that operates a network of 12 retail pharmacies concentrated in Milan's Zone 1 (city center), serving approximately 2,700 cooperative members (soci) and the general public. The cooperative's core offering is retail sale of pharmaceuticals, parapharmaceuticals, and health/wellness products across locations in high-traffic areas including Duomo, Manzoni, Lima, Vercelli, Sempione, and Pontaccio. Members receive periodic rebates proportional to purchases (ristorno), price stabilization on medicines, free home delivery within Milan territory via a partnership with Pharmercure, and access to a digital loyalty program (E-Fidelity Carta Fedeltà) operated through cofa.efidelity.it.

Beyond pharmacy retail, the cooperative operates several ancillary product lines. The most distinctive is Medicamenta, a seven-volume pharmaceutical encyclopedia first published in 1908 and currently in its 7th edition, distributed both as a physical reference work and as a subscription-based online platform (medicamenta.cofa.it) serving pharmacists, doctors, chemists, and students. Additional offerings include aesthetic treatment cabins using Skinius Beauty Suite technology at four pharmacy locations, a portfolio of in-pharmacy diagnostic services (blood pressure monitoring, Holter, ECG, spirometry, auto-analysis), homeopathic and veterinary medicines, equipment rental, and a quarterly Co.Fa. Magazine. The cooperative publishes annual financial statements (bilanci) from 2020 through 2025 and reports financial metrics to its member body but discloses no revenue figures publicly.

The cooperative is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Prof. Paolo Veronesi (since 2023) and Vice President Rosa Massari, with a separate Collegio Sindacale (Supervisory Board). Ownership is distributed among the approximately 2,700 member-shareholders; there is no external equity, parent company, or public listing. The company is registered in Milan (Registro imprese: Milano - 1719 - REA: Milano - 1973; Partita IVA 00774640155) and operates exclusively in Lombardy, Italy. Strategic direction under the current leadership has pivoted toward prevention and pharmacy services, exemplified by the 2026 cardiovascular prevention campaign for members.

Name

Societa Cooperativa Farmaceutica

Legal name

Società Cooperativa Farmaceutica

Website

https://cofa.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Società Cooperativa Farmaceutica is an Italian mutual-benefit cooperative, founded in 1890 in Milan, that operates 12 retail pharmacies in Milan's Zone 1 serving approximately 2,700 cooperative members and the general public with pharmaceuticals, the Medicamenta pharmaceutical encyclopedia, aesthetic treatments, and home delivery services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Pharmacy

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAFALAA

Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Pharmacy & Medication Management Services

SECONDARYCRAFAFAI

Pharmacy & Health Essentials Delivery

Consumer Products & Retail/E-commerce & Marketplaces/Grocery & On-demand Delivery Commerce

Keywords

• Retail pharmacy services
• Pharmaceutical encyclopedia publishing
• Cooperative healthcare membership
• Community pharmacy network
• Diagnostic health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmacy Retail Sales: Revenue from retail sales of pharmaceuticals, parapharmaceuticals, and health/wellness products across 12 pharmacy locations in Milan Zone 1. Core business generating operating income through direct consumer sales.
2. Member Rebates (Ristorno): Mutual benefit system where members receive periodic rebates proportional to their purchases. This represents both a cost structure and a membership retention mechanism, redistributing value to approximately 2700 cooperative members.
3. Medicamenta Publications: Revenue from sale and subscription of the Medicamenta pharmaceutical encyclopedia. Includes both physical 7-volume publication (now in 7th edition) and online subscription access to continuously updated monographs. Target customers include pharmacists, doctors, chemists, and students.
4. Home Delivery Services: Delivery service for members within Milan territory. Free delivery for members; non-members and additional services priced from 2 euros.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Società Cooperativa Farmaceutica operates a network of 12 retail pharmacies in central Milan (Zone 1) selling pharmaceuticals, parapharmaceuticals, and health/wellness products to members and the general public. Beyond retail, it sells and subscribes to the Medicamenta pharmaceutical encyclopedia (in print and online) used by pharmacists, doctors, chemists, and students. It also provides complementary services including a loyalty card program, home delivery, aesthetic cabin treatments, and diagnostic health services such as blood pressure monitoring, ECG, Holter, spirometry, and auto-analysis.

Product overview

Società Cooperativa Farmaceutica operates as a cooperative pharmacy network comprising 12 pharmacies in Milan's Zone 1, founded in 1890 as a mutual benefit organization for approximately 2,700 members. The company's product portfolio centers on its core pharmacy network offering pharmaceutical products and health services. Key products include Medicamenta, a pharmaceutical encyclopedia published since 1908 available both in printed seven-volume format and as a subscription-based online platform providing monographs on active pharmaceutical ingredients. Additional offerings include a fidelity card program (Carta Fedeltà) valid across all pharmacies, home delivery services through partnership with Pharmercure, aesthetic treatment cabins with 'Skinius Beauty Suite' technology at four locations, and various health monitoring services (blood pressure, Holter, ECG, spirometry, auto-analysis). The company also publishes a quarterly health magazine (Co.Fa. Magazine) for member education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Medicamenta: Pharmaceutical atlas published since 1908, providing comprehensive and certified information on drugs for health professionals. The only private edition officially admitted in public competitive exams for pharmaceutical site assignments. Currently in its seventh edition.

Products and services

• Cofa Pharmacy Network (12 Pharmacies) A network of 12 cooperative pharmacies located in Milan Zone 1 (Duomo, Manzoni, Lima, Vercelli, Sant'Agnese, Sempione, Vittoria, Canonica, Baiamonti, Colombo, Pontaccio, Lamarmora) selling pharmaceuticals, parapharmaceuticals, and health/wellness products to cooperative members and the general public.
• Medicamenta Online Subscription-based web platform providing comprehensive pharmaceutical reference information on active ingredients, chemical properties, pharmacological characteristics, clinical formulations, and therapeutic applications for pharmacists, doctors, chemists, and students.
• Medicamenta (Printed Encyclopedia) Seven-volume printed pharmaceutical encyclopedia providing certified and exhaustive information on drugs for healthcare professionals, currently in its seventh edition.
• Carta Fedeltà (Fidelity Card) Loyalty card program offering points on purchases (1 point per €2 spent) redeemable for discount coupons (€10 at 150 points, €30 at 300 points, €60 at 400 points for aesthetic treatments), with online management via the e-fidelity portal. Free for members and non-members alike.
• Home Delivery (Consegna a Domicilio) Home delivery service for pharmaceutical products within Milan, free for cooperative members on Milan territory and from €2 for non-members. Includes prescription retrieval service where the pharmacy collects prescriptions on behalf of customers.
• Cabine Estetiche (Aesthetic Cabins) Aesthetic treatment cabins equipped with Skinius Beauty Suite technology at four pharmacy locations (Lima, Duomo, Sant'Agnese, Vercelli), offering scientifically validated facial and body treatments overseen by dermatologists and aesthetic medicine physicians.
• Pharmacy Health Services Various health diagnostic and monitoring services at pharmacy locations including blood pressure measurement, Holter monitoring, ECG, spirometry, oxygen saturation, body weight control, impedance measurement, blood and urine auto-analysis, diabetic and incontinence supplies, celiac food products, homeopathic and veterinary medicines, and equipment rental (wheelchairs, crutches, breast pumps, magnetotherapy devices).
• Co.Fa. Magazine Quarterly health and wellness information magazine published by Co.Fa. pharmacists, distributed at pharmacy locations and available as downloadable PDF, providing patient education and cooperative updates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2700 cooperative members served through 12 pharmacy locations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PharmercurecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome delivery partnership enabling pharmaceutical product delivery to members and customers within Milan. Free delivery for members on Milan territory; service available to non-members from 2 euros. Prescription retrieval service included - pharmacy collects prescription on behalf of customer.
• Fondazione RavaminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting Fondazione Rava's mission to help neediest children in Haiti. Part of cooperative's social responsibility initiative.
• Francis TodayminorOthersCharitable partnership supporting social insertion of disadvantaged people through work. Part of cooperative's commitment to social welfare.
• ATS (Azienda Territoriale della Salute)coreOthersHealthcare convention partnerships with local health authorities (ATS) for provision of diabetic supplies, incontinence products, celiac foods, and other subsidized medical products through pharmacy locations.
• Skinius Beauty SuitecoreTechnology or IntegrationAesthetic cabin technology partner providing advanced skin treatment equipment. Installed at pharmacies Lima, Duomo, Sant'Agnese, and Vercelli. Treatments validated scientifically by expert dermatologists and aesthetic medicine physicians.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Broad incumbents

• Phoenix Group: Pan-European pharmaceutical wholesaler and pharmacy operator combining logistics distribution with retail pharmacy brands across multiple countries. Comparable on retail-pharmacy exposure and European scale; differs in being wholesale-led with pharmacy as one segment of a larger distribution business.
• Walgreens Boots Alliance: Global pharmacy-led health and wellbeing enterprise combining the Walgreens US chain and Boots UK/international footprint. Comparable as a multi-country pharmacy retailer with broad health-services portfolio; differs vastly in scale and corporate structure.
• CVS Pharmacy: Largest US pharmacy retail chain, integrating prescription dispensing, in-store health services (MinuteClinic), and consumer health products. Comparable as a multi-outlet community pharmacy operator offering services beyond dispensing; differs in scale, geography, and ownership of an integrated PBM/insurer.

Direct peers

• LloydsFarmacia: One of Italy's largest pharmacy chains, operating hundreds of stores nationwide under the LloydsFarmacia brand and providing retail dispensing, parapharmacy, and in-store health services. Directly comparable to Co.Fa. as a multi-location community pharmacy operator; differs in scale, national footprint, and private-equity-backed ownership.
• Pharmercure: Italian online pharmacy and prescription delivery platform; already partnered with Co.Fa. for home delivery of medicines within Milan. Comparable as a pharmacy retailer with home-delivery capabilities; differs in being digital-led rather than physical-store-led.
• Dr. Max (Italy operations): Pan-European pharmacy chain with a growing Italian footprint, offering prescription dispensing, OTC, parapharmacy, and in-pharmacy services. Comparable on core community-pharmacy retail model, omnichannel ambition, and services-led value proposition; differs in being a foreign-controlled multi-country operator.
• Farmacie Comunali (AFAM / municipal pharmacies): Federation of Italian municipal pharmacies operating under local public ownership with multi-outlet presence in major cities. Directly comparable as a multi-pharmacy community-pharmacy operator serving the general public; differs in public/municipal ownership rather than cooperative.

Emerging players

• PromoPharma: Italy-focused pharmacy retail and distribution group combining physical outlets with B2B services to independent pharmacists. Comparable as an Italian pharmacy aggregator with services beyond dispensing; differs in serving independents rather than operating its own consumer-facing retail brand.
• DocMorris (Zurich / Italian operations): Online-first pharmacy operating across Europe including Italy, focusing on mail-order prescription and OTC dispensing plus marketplace partnerships. Comparable as a competing pharmacy channel targeting Italian consumers; differs in being digital-native without dense physical retail.

Peers

• Federfarma / Fondazione Francesco Cannavò (pharmacy reference ecosystem):

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/farmaciecofamilano

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Societa Cooperativa Farmaceutica