AIN
AIN Holdings (TYO:9627) operates approximately 900 dispensing pharmacies nationwide in Japan under the AIN Pharmacy brand, alongside AINZ&TULPE cosmetics, AYURA skincare, and Francfranc home d\u00e9cor retail, serving individual consumers through prescription dispensing, OTC retail, and home healthcare services.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersSapporo, Japan
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What AIN does
AIN Holdings Inc. (TYO:9627) is a publicly traded Japanese pharmacy and retail holding company headquartered in Sapporo, Hokkaido, with offices in Tokyo, Osaka, and Sendai. Founded in 1974, the group operates a nationwide network of approximately 900 pharmacies under the AIN Pharmacy brand, holding specialized government designations including 552 Regional Collaboration Pharmacies, 41 Specialized Medical Institution Collaboration Pharmacies (cancer), and 252 Health Support Pharmacies. Beyond dispensing, AIN runs the AINZ&TULPE cosmetics and drug retail chain, the AYURA skincare brand, the Francfranc furniture and interior d\u00e9cor retailer (acquired July 2024), and adjacent subsidiaries including Mediwell (medical recruitment), Dai Chiku (regional pharmacies), and the newly acquired Sakura Pharmacy Group (June 2025).
The group's revenue model rests on three pillars: (1) prescription dispensing billed through Japan's national health insurance, (2) OTC medications, cosmetics, and lifestyle product retail through AINZ&TULPE, AYURA, and Francfranc, and (3) home healthcare and pharmacist home-visit services billed under long-term care insurance. Core technology platforms include the 'Anytime AIN Pharmacy' mobile app with prescription transmission, 24-hour pharmacist chat, and LINE integration, plus electronic prescription handling, video-call online pharmaceutical guidance, and the Pharmacy Preavoid medication-optimization service. The company is also a founding participant in the Pharmacy DX Promotion Consortium and operates Japan's first cross-corporate dispensing-outsourcing model.
AIN serves individual consumers across all 47 Japanese prefectures with a heavily B2C, distributed revenue base and no significant enterprise customer concentration. Its growth strategy combines aggressive M&A (Francfranc, Craft, Sakura Pharmacy), store-network expansion, pharmacy DX initiatives, and sustainability infrastructure (off-site solar PPA with JERA Cross). The group employs 18,300+ people as of April 2025 and maintains industry-leading ESG credentials including an MSCI A rating, CDP B score, and inclusion in multiple GPIF-adopted ESG indices.
AIN firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AIN
- Legal name
- AIN HOLDINGS INC.
- Website
- https://ainj.co.jp
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- AIN Holdings (TYO:9627) operates approximately 900 dispensing pharmacies nationwide in Japan under the AIN Pharmacy brand, alongside AINZ&TULPE cosmetics, AYURA skincare, and Francfranc home d\u00e9cor retail, serving individual consumers through prescription dispensing, OTC retail, and home healthcare services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AIN industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dispensing Pharmacy Services
- NAICS
- Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611)
- SIC
- Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent) (HLAFALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health, Wellness & Pharmacy Online Retailers (CRAFADAG), Health, Wellness & Pharmacy Marketplaces (CRAFABAF)
Keywords
Where AIN is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sapporo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
AIN business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Prescription Dispensing (Pharmacy Business): Revenue from dispensing prescription medications based on prescriptions from medical institutions, billed through national health insurance system. Core business segment.
- OTC and Retail Products: Over-the-counter medications, cosmetics, health supplements, and general merchandise sales through AINZ&TULPE stores and pharmacy counters
- Home Healthcare Services: Pharmacist home visits for medication management and counseling, covered under long-term care insurance
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Homecare medication management guidance fees under long-term care insurance |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Prescription dispensing and nursing supply container fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
AIN product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AIN Holdings operates a nationwide chain of approximately 900 dispensing pharmacies under the AIN Pharmacy (アイン薬局) brand, providing prescription dispensing, OTC medication sales, home healthcare visits, and specialized pharmaceutical care including cancer care and regional coordination services. Beyond pharmacy operations, AIN runs a retail business through the AINZ&TULPE cosmetics and drugstore chain, the AYURA skincare brand, and the Francfranc furniture and interior goods retailer. Services are supported by the official "Anytime AIN Pharmacy" mobile app and electronic prescription infrastructure.
Product overview
AIN Holdings operates two primary business segments: a nationwide dispensing pharmacy chain (AIN Pharmacy, アイン薬局) providing prescription services, home medical care, and specialized pharmaceutical care; and a retail business encompassing cosmetics chain AINZ & TULPE, skincare brand AYURA, and lifestyle retailer Francfranc. The pharmacy operations are supported by the official 'Anytime AIN Pharmacy' app enabling prescription submission, video consultations, and medication management. AIN Pharmacy holds specialized designations including 552 Regional Collaboration Pharmacies, 41 Specialized Medical Institution Collaboration Pharmacies, and 252 Health Support Pharmacies. Services include online pharmaceutical guidance via video, home visits, cancer care specialization, medication optimization (Preavoid), and digital prescription processing. The retail brands serve beauty and lifestyle consumer segments through physical stores and e-commerce platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- アイン薬局 (AIN Pharmacy): Main dispensing pharmacy brand providing prescription medication services, pharmaceutical counseling, and health-related services across Japan.
- AINZ&TULPE
- AYURA
- Francfranc
Products and services
- AIN Pharmacy (アイン薬局) Nationwide chain of approximately 900 dispensing pharmacies providing prescription dispensing, medication management, health counseling, and home medical care services. Accepts prescriptions from all medical institutions across Japan. Includes specialized designations: 552 Regional Collaboration Pharmacies, 41 Specialized Medical Institution Collaboration Pharmacies, and 252 Health Support Pharmacies.
- Official App - Anytime AIN Pharmacy (公式アプリ いつでもアイン薬局) Smartphone application enabling prescription transmission, medication management, online pharmaceutical consultations, and pharmacy search functionality. Supports LINE integration for prescription sending and provides 24-hour pharmacist consultation access.
- Online Pharmaceutical Guidance (オンライン服薬指導) Video call-based remote consultation service allowing pharmacists to provide medication guidance to patients. Enables prescription processing and medication delivery without in-person pharmacy visits.
- Home Medical Care (在宅医療) Pharmacist visit services for homebound patients requiring medication management, counseling, and ongoing pharmaceutical care support. Billed under long-term care insurance with tiered unit pricing.
- AINZ & TULPE (アインズ&トルペ) Cosmetics and drug retail chain offering beauty products, skincare, supplements, and daily necessities. Operates both physical stores and online webstore. A wholly-owned AIN Group brand.
- AYURA (アユーラ) Cosmetics brand focused on skincare and body care products addressing skin concerns related to stress. Products include Meditation Bath, hot spring therapies, and herbal skincare lines. Operated by AYURA Laboratories Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- Francfranc (フランフラン) Furniture and interior goods retail brand offering lifestyle products, home décor, and design-focused household items. Operates physical stores and an online shopping platform. Acquired by AIN in July 2024.
- Digital Prescription Service (電子処方箋) Electronic prescription system enabling paperless transmission of prescriptions from medical institutions directly to pharmacies, facilitating streamlined medication dispensing integrated with national health insurance infrastructure.
Quantifiable outcome
- 89.83% voter turnout in Puducherry elections (not related to company operations)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AIN
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AIN technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature3 records
AIN partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered significant, core and minor.
- JERA Cross (株式会社JERA Cross)significantOff-site corporate PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) for solar power at Kansai and Hokuriku region pharmacies. Expected annual CO2 reduction of approximately 1,000 t-CO2. Expansion planned to Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, and Chugoku regions.
- Falmedico Inc. (ファルメディコ株式会社)significantFirst in Japan to implement prescription dispensing outsourcing between different legal entities. AIN Pharmacy Hirano Kami outsources unit-dose packaging to Hazama Pharmacy Hirano Center.
- Pharmacy DX Promotion Consortium (薬局DX推進コンソーシアム)coreIndustry consortium promoting digital transformation in pharmacy operations, including prescription dispensing outsourcing between different legal entities.
- Japan Insurance Pharmacy Association (日本保険薬局協会)coreAIN Group is a member of this industry association for health insurance pharmacies, participating in national health awareness campaigns.
- Daichiku Co. (株式会社ダイチク)minorSubsidiary company operating pharmacies in Niigata Prefecture (50 stores) participating in cervical cancer prevention awareness campaigns.
- DOKYUU (株式会社どうきゅう)minorPartnership with Hokkaido-based company providing healthy lunch menu options at Sapporo headquarters cafeteria.
- Sapporo CityminorPartnership under 'Sapporo City Partnership for Town Development' for COVID-19 infection prevention measures.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AIN competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AIN social profiles
Digital presenceAIN compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
AIN financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AIN leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
AIN subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
AIN funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AIN M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AIN
What does AIN do?
AIN Holdings operates a nationwide chain of approximately 900 dispensing pharmacies under the AIN Pharmacy (アイン薬局) brand, providing prescription dispensing, OTC medication sales, home healthcare visits, and specialized pharmaceutical care including cancer care and regional coordination services. Beyond pharmacy operations, AIN runs a retail business through the AINZ&TULPE cosmetics and drugstore chain, the AYURA skincare brand, and the Francfranc furniture and interior goods retailer. Services are supported by the official "Anytime AIN Pharmacy" mobile app and electronic prescription infrastructure.
Is AIN a public or private company?
AIN is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was AIN founded?
AIN was founded in 1974. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is AIN based?
AIN is headquartered in Sapporo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does AIN make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Prescription Dispensing (Pharmacy Business) is the primary driver. The others are OTC and Retail Products and home Healthcare Services.
Does AIN have an API?
No public API is recorded for AIN.
What industry is AIN in?
AIN's product category is Dispensing Pharmacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAFALAA, Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent), with a secondary code of CRAFADAG, Health, Wellness & Pharmacy Online Retailers. Its NAICS code is 45611 and its SIC code is 5912.