What Groupe PHR does

Groupe PHR, legally Groupe PHR S.A.S. (formerly Pharmacie Référence Groupe), operates a pharmacy groupement and franchise network serving more than 700 independent pharmacies across metropolitan France and the French Antilles (via subsidiary PHR Antilles). Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, the company combines centralized purchasing platforms (Déporéférence, Tradiréférence, Virtuose + Bio Express) with the consumer-facing 'Ma Pharmacie Référence' phygital enseigne, an in-house private label laboratory (PHR Lab, 175 SKUs across 14 segments), professional services portal (Kiosque PHR), e-learning, the MA CARTE & moi loyalty program, and the Pause Santé health magazine.

The technology layer is built around a 'phygital' stack integrating physical pharmacy operations with digital tools: a patient mobile application, dedicated websites per pharmacy, a seven-segment client space, queue-management kiosk, and the Kiosque PHR professional portal. ISO 9001/QMS Pharma certification and the Pharmacie Durable sustainability label provide process and ESG credentials. The group operates without a public AI offering; its differentiators are described as ease-of-use implementation and integration interoperability rather than algorithmic capability.

Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring membership and franchise fees from the Ma Pharmacie Référence network, volume rebates from suppliers negotiated through the central purchasing agencies, and sales of PHR Lab private label products to member pharmacies. Following the 2018 integration into OCP and 2022 acquisition of OCP by Phoenix Group, Groupe PHR is an entity within Phoenix OCP, Europe's largest pharmaceutical distributor, which underpins its wholesale supply and rebates. The customer base is exclusively SMB (independent pharmacy owners), and the segment focus is vertical: independent pharmacists seeking purchasing leverage, brand identity, and digital service stacks to compete with retail pharmacy chains.

Name

Groupe PHR

Legal name

Groupe PHR S.A.S.

Website

https://groupephr.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Groupe PHR is a French pharmacy groupement and franchise network serving 700+ independent pharmacies under the Ma Pharmacie Référence brand, providing centralized purchasing, private label products (PHR Lab), digital tools, training, and field support as a subsidiary of Phoenix OCP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmacy Group Services / Pharmaceutical Retail Network

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent) (HLAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmacy Information Systems (PIS) & Dispensing Workflow (HLACAKAC), Value Pharmacies & Deep-Discount Pharmacy Retail (CRAEAHAB)

Keywords

• Pharmacy group services
• Pharmaceutical purchasing group
• Pharmacy retail network
• Pharmacy franchise brand
• Private label pharmacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulogne-billancourt

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Group Purchasing (Centrales d'Achat): Groupe PHR operates purchasing cooperatives (centrales d'achat, référencement, and services) that negotiate better prices and terms for member pharmacies. Revenue comes from membership fees and volume-based rebates from suppliers.
2. Franchise/Enseigne Fees: Pharmacists pay to join the 'Ma Pharmacie Référence' brand and access the full-service package including marketing tools, loyalty programs, training, and support services.
3. Private Label Products (MDD): PHR Lab produces distributor brand products (Marque de Distributeur) across 14 segments with over 400 references, generating revenue through product sales to member pharmacies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Groupe PHR operates a pharmacy purchasing groupement and franchise network serving more than 700 independent pharmacies in France under the 'Ma Pharmacie Référence' brand. It provides member pharmacies with collective purchasing power via centralized cooperatives (Déporéférence, Tradiréférence, Virtuose + Bio Express), an in-house private label laboratory (PHR Lab) producing 175+ products across 14 segments, a loyalty program (MA CARTE & moi), digital tools (patient app, dedicated pharmacy websites, Kiosque PHR professional portal, queue management), e-learning training, marketing operations, and patient accompaniment programs.

Product overview

Groupe PHR (Pharmacie Référence Groupe) operates as a pharmacy purchasing group and network serving over 700 independent pharmacies in France. The offering consists of the core groupement system (Pharmacie Référence Groupe) providing optimized purchasing through centralized platforms (Déporéférence, Tradiréférence, Virtuose + Bio Express) connected to OCP/McKesson supply chain, combined with the 'Ma Pharmacie Référence' phygital pharmacy chain brand offering complete services including the MA CARTE & moi loyalty program, patient application, dedicated pharmacy websites, and patient accompaniment programs. Additional offerings include PHR Lab (175 private label products), the Kiosque PHR professional portal, PHR Antilles subsidiary, and the Pause Santé magazine.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Déporéférence: Centralisation of discounted offers for OTC and parapharmacy products
• Tradiréférence
• Virtuose + Bio Express
• PHR Lab
• Pause Santé
• MA CARTE & moi

Products and services

• Ma Pharmacie Référence The main pharmacy chain/brand of Pharmacie Référence Groupe, representing a 360° phygital (physical + digital) pharmacy brand focused on patient care and serving over 700 member pharmacies.
• MA CARTE & moi Customer loyalty card program for pharmacy customers that provides personalised commercial offers, email campaigns, and a statistics interface for member pharmacies.
• La Pharmacie Services Network within Pharmacie Référence Groupe offering comprehensive services to pharmacy professionals, including optimised purchasing, supply chain reactivity via the group's centrals, and à la carte service modules.
• PHR Lab In-house pharmaceutical laboratory producing 175+ private label (Marque de Distributeur) products across 14 product segments and 400+ references, distributed exclusively to member pharmacies.
• Déporéférence Centralised purchasing platform aggregating discounted offers for OTC (over-the-counter) and parapharmacy products on behalf of member pharmacies.
• Tradiréférence Centralised purchasing platform for reimbursed pharmaceutical products and medical devices on behalf of member pharmacies.
• Virtuose + Bio Express Next-day generic drug delivery service without minimum order requirements, combined with a natural products platform covering aromatherapy (Aroma) and phytotherapy (Phyto).
• Kiosque PHR Professional portal for member pharmacies providing access to group resources, services, and operational tools.
• 'Osez la santé, c'est mieux pour la vie' Patient Programs Comprehensive patient accompaniment programs addressing public health topics including medication reviews (Bilan de médication), asthma management, and general preventive health awareness campaigns (e.g., Angine, Octobre Rose, Movember) deployed through member pharmacies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Monthly commercial operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OCP GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Pharmacie Référence Groupe joined OCP, the leader in pharmaceutical distribution in France and part of McKesson group. OCP provides the group's supply chain strength and responsiveness. In 2022, OCP was acquired by Phoenix Group, the European leader in pharmaceutical distribution, making Pharmacie Référence Groupe an entity of Phoenix OCP.
• MFO (Formation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerE-learning training partner providing continuing education content for pharmacists and their teams through the PHR training platform.
• naocareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerE-learning training partner specializing in pharmacy-focused professional development courses available through the PHR training platform.
• OCP FormationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner providing professional development content for member pharmacists, available through the PHR e-learning platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cerp France: French pharmaceutical buying group and pharmacy network serving independent officines with purchasing, services and branding. Directly comparable to Groupe PHR's purchasing cooperative and groupement model.
• Alliance Healthcare France: Pharmaceutical wholesaler (Walgreens Boots Alliance) operating an affiliated pharmacy network and services for independent pharmacists in France. Comparable as a combined wholesaler-plus-groupement competitor to Phoenix OCP/Groupe PHR.
• Giropharm: French pharmacy groupement (part of Astera) supporting independent pharmacies with purchasing, enseigne, and digital services. Closely comparable to Groupe PHR across purchasing cooperative structure, member support programs, and brand identity for independent officines.
• Leadersanté: French pharmacy network grouping independent pharmacies under a common enseigne with purchasing and service support. Closely comparable to Groupe PHR's groupement plus enseigne offering.
• Pharmactiv: Major French pharmacy groupement providing purchasing, services and branding to independent pharmacies. Directly comparable to Groupe PHR in business model (groupement, purchasing cooperative, enseignes, services to titulaires) and target member base.
• EvoluPharm: French pharmacy groupement offering purchasing, digital tools and enseignes to independent pharmacies. Similar target member base and service bundle to Groupe PHR.
• La Pharmacie Lafayette: French pharmacy network/enseigne that combines groupement services with a strong chain brand. Directly comparable to 'Ma Pharmacie Référence' on the enseigne, brand-led positioning, and member support services.
• Apsaly: French pharmacy groupement serving independent pharmacists with purchasing, marketing and member services. Comparable cooperative/groupement model for independent officines in France.

Broad incumbents

• Phoenix Group: Parent company of Phoenix OCP (which owns Groupe PHR) and the European leader in pharmaceutical distribution. Relevant as the ultimate parent whose scale and strategy shape Groupe PHR's procurement and growth ceiling.
• McKesson: Global healthcare services and pharmaceutical distribution company; was the indirect parent of Groupe PHR via OCP between 2018 and 2022. Relevant as a global incumbent shaping the wholesale and pharmacy services landscape Groupe PHR operates in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PharmacieMa
• Facebookfacebook.com/mapharmaciereference
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pharmaciereferencegroupe

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Groupe PHR