The Jean Coutu Group PJC
Jean Coutu is a Quebec-based retail pharmacy chain operating affiliated pharmacist-owned storefronts and an e-commerce platform, serving consumers with prescription services, OTC health products, beauty and dermo-cosmetics, photo services, and the Metro-owned Moi loyalty program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersLongueuil, Canada
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Jean Coutu Group PJC does
The Jean Coutu Group PJC (legal name: Le Groupe Jean Coutu (PJC) inc.) is a Quebec-based retail pharmacy chain founded in 1969, headquartered in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, with 10,000+ employees. It operates a network of affiliated pharmacist-owned storefronts across Quebec, complemented by an e-commerce platform (jeancoutu.com) and iOS/Android mobile applications. The core offering is built around three service lines: pharmacy and health services (prescription dispensing, prescription renewal, Dossier Santé health records, appointment booking, travel health consultations, smoking cessation, and blood pressure monitoring), beauty and dermo-cosmetics retail (including Vichy, Avène, and L'Oréal partner brands and private labels Personnelle Cosmétiques and Zya), and photo services (passport photos, prints, photo books, and decorative products).
The business model is consumer-direct retail with a franchise-like affiliate structure in which licensed pharmacists own and operate individual stores. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales (OTC health, beauty, personal care, general merchandise), professional pharmacy services, photo services, and the Moi loyalty program (a registered trademark of Metro Inc., indicating corporate affiliation). Marketing operates through a multi-channel mix including weekly circulars and coupons, email newsletters, social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok), content marketing via advice sections, and the Moi points-based loyalty rewards. The company is integrated into the Metro Inc. ecosystem through the loyalty platform and corporate communications, consistent with the delisted TSX:PJC.A status noted in firmographic data.
The Jean Coutu Group PJC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Jean Coutu Group PJC
- Legal name
- Le Groupe Jean Coutu (PJC) inc.
- Website
- https://jeancoutu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Jean Coutu is a Quebec-based retail pharmacy chain operating affiliated pharmacist-owned storefronts and an e-commerce platform, serving consumers with prescription services, OTC health products, beauty and dermo-cosmetics, photo services, and the Metro-owned Moi loyalty program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Jean Coutu Group PJC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Pharmacy
- NAICS
- Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110), Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)
- 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 Front-End General Merchandise (Value GM) (CRAEAHAI), Health, Wellness & Pharmacy Online Retailers (CRAFADAG)
Keywords
Where The Jean Coutu Group PJC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Longueuil
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Jean Coutu Group PJC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Pharmacy Sales: Revenue generated from sale of over-the-counter health products, beauty and dermo-cosmetic products, personal care items, and general merchandise through physical pharmacy locations and online store.
- Prescription Pharmacy Services: Pharmacy services including prescription dispensing and health management services provided by affiliated pharmacist owners.
- Photo Services: Photo printing, passport photos, photo books, calendars, and decorative photo products through dedicated photo service kiosks.
- Loyalty Program Moi: Moi is a loyalty rewards program (a trademark of Metro inc.) that generates customer engagement and drives repeat purchases through points accumulation and exclusive offers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Over-the-counter pharmacy and beauty products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Jean Coutu Group PJC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Jean Coutu Group PJC operates a retail drugstore chain selling prescription medications, over-the-counter health products, dermo-cosmetic and beauty products, personal care items, general merchandise, and photo printing services through a network of affiliated pharmacist-owned storefronts across Quebec and an e-commerce platform. The company also operates the Programme Moi loyalty program (a Metro Inc. trademark) and the Dossier Santé online health record system.
Product overview
The Jean Coutu Group PJC is a Quebec-based pharmacy retail chain operating a multi-service platform combining pharmacy/health services, beauty products retail, and photo services. The core offering consists of health services (prescription management, Dossier Santé health records, prescription renewals, appointments), beauty products (dermo-cosmetics, makeup, skincare through both branded partners like Vichy, Avène and private labels Personnelle Cosmétiques and Zya), and photo services (passport photos, printing, photo books). The business model integrates a loyalty program (Programme Moi), e-commerce platform with delivery/pickup options, and mobile applications. Products are sold through a network of pharmacist-owned affiliated stores and an online platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Moi: Loyalty program offered by Jean Coutu. Moi is a trademark of Metro Inc.
Products and services
- Santé (Health Services) Comprehensive pharmacy health services including prescription management, prescription renewal, appointment booking, travel health consultations, smoking cessation programs, and blood pressure monitoring delivered through affiliated pharmacist-owned locations.
- Beauté (Beauty Products) Retail beauty product offering including dermo-cosmetics, skincare, makeup, haircare, nail care, fragrances, and beauty tools across premium brand partners and private-label lines, available in-store and online.
- Photo Services Photo printing and related services including passport photos, standard photo prints, photo books, calendars, wall decorations, greeting cards, and other decorative photo products offered through in-store photo kiosks.
- Programme Moi (Loyalty Program) Member loyalty rewards program (a registered trademark of Metro Inc.) offering points accumulation on purchases, exclusive coupons, personalized offers, and special promotional pricing for enrolled consumers.
- Dossier Santé (Online Health Record) Online personal health record management system that allows customers to access prescription history, view medical documents, renew prescriptions, and manage health information through affiliated pharmacist-owned stores.
- Personnelle Cosmétiques (Private Label Beauty Brand) Jean Coutu's exclusive private-label cosmetic and beauty product line covering makeup, skincare, haircare, and personal care items sold only at Jean Coutu stores and online.
- Zya (Private Label Beauty Brand) Jean Coutu's private-label skincare and beauty brand featuring hydrogel face masks, acne patches, eye patches, jade gua sha tools, and body care products sold exclusively through Jean Coutu.
Companies that use The Jean Coutu Group PJC
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Jean Coutu Group PJC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Jean Coutu Group PJC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Metro Inc.coreMetro Inc. owns the Moi loyalty program brand and operates the loyalty platform. Jean Coutu, as part of the Metro group of companies, participates in the Moi rewards program that offers points, exclusive coupons, and personalized offers to customers. The partnership extends to media relations managed through Metro's corporate communications.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Jean Coutu Group PJC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- London Drugs: Western Canadian retail chain combining pharmacy, beauty, photo, and electronics. While geography differs (BC/Alberta-led), its multi-category drugstore model with strong photo services and beauty assortment closely mirrors Jean Coutu's integrated offering.
- Brunet: Quebec retail pharmacy banner also owned by Metro Inc. and participating in the Moi loyalty program. Overlaps directly with Jean Coutu on prescription services, beauty, and private label — both are siblings within the Metro pharmacy portfolio.
- Pharmasave: Canadian cooperative of community pharmacies operating in Quebec and other provinces. Comparable affiliated-owner model and service offering (prescription dispensing, OTC, beauty, photo) makes it a close analog, though its geographic mix is broader than Jean Coutu's Quebec-only focus.
- Familiprix: Quebec cooperative of affiliated pharmacist-owners offering prescription services, beauty, and general merchandise. Operates a similar franchise-style affiliated-owner model and competes directly with Jean Coutu in suburban and rural Quebec markets.
- Uniprix: Quebec-based pharmacy banner unifying independent pharmacist-owners, similar to Jean Coutu's affiliated-owner model. Competes head-to-head in prescription dispensing, front-store health and beauty, and loyalty programs in the same Quebec geography.
- Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix): Canada's largest retail pharmacy chain, owned by Loblaw. Directly competes with Jean Coutu in Quebec under the Pharmaprix banner with prescription dispensing, beauty (Quo, L'Oréal), private labels, and the PC Optimum loyalty program — a near-perfect analog to Jean Coutu's model.
Others
- McKesson Canada: Pharmaceutical wholesaler and parent of Rexall. Operates upstream in the drug distribution value chain that supplies Jean Coutu's affiliated pharmacies, making it an ecosystem counterpart rather than a direct retailer competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Walmart Canada: Mass merchandiser with in-store pharmacies across Canada including Quebec. Disrupts Jean Coutu on OTC, beauty, and general merchandise pricing for budget-conscious consumers, though it lacks Jean Coutu's depth in dermo-cosmetics and clinical pharmacy services.
- Rexall (McKesson Canada): Canadian retail pharmacy chain owned by McKesson, operating storefronts and pharmacy services. Comparable prescription + front-store model; less Quebec density than Jean Coutu but a structural competitor for banner-level partnerships and supplier negotiations.
- Costco Canada: Membership warehouse club operating in-store pharmacies with highly competitive prescription pricing in Quebec. Pulls price-sensitive prescription and OTC volume away from Jean Coutu, though it does not offer beauty breadth or affiliated-owner service model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Jean Coutu Group PJC social profiles
Digital presenceThe Jean Coutu Group PJC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Jean Coutu Group PJC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Jean Coutu Group PJC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Jean Coutu Group PJC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Jean Coutu Group PJC
What does The Jean Coutu Group PJC do?
The Jean Coutu Group PJC operates a retail drugstore chain selling prescription medications, over-the-counter health products, dermo-cosmetic and beauty products, personal care items, general merchandise, and photo printing services through a network of affiliated pharmacist-owned storefronts across Quebec and an e-commerce platform. The company also operates the Programme Moi loyalty program (a Metro Inc. trademark) and the Dossier Santé online health record system.
Is The Jean Coutu Group PJC a public or private company?
The Jean Coutu Group PJC is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Jean Coutu Group PJC founded?
The Jean Coutu Group PJC was founded in 1969. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is The Jean Coutu Group PJC based?
The Jean Coutu Group PJC is headquartered in Longueuil, Canada, in the North America region.
How does The Jean Coutu Group PJC make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Pharmacy Sales are the primary driver. The others are prescription Pharmacy Services, photo Services and loyalty Program Moi.
Who are The Jean Coutu Group PJC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are London Drugs, Brunet, Pharmasave, Familiprix, Uniprix and Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix). McKesson Canada is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Walmart Canada, Rexall (McKesson Canada) and Costco Canada.
Does The Jean Coutu Group PJC have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Jean Coutu Group PJC.
What industry is The Jean Coutu Group PJC in?
The Jean Coutu Group PJC'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 CRAEAHAI, Discount Drugstores with Front-End General Merchandise (Value GM). Its NAICS code is 456110 and its SIC code is 5912.