What Grafenberger Apotheke does

Grafenberger Apotheke is a traditional German community pharmacy (Vor-Ort-Apotheke) headquartered at Grafenberger Allee 409 in Düsseldorf, operating continuously since 1908. The business is structured as a sole proprietorship (eingetragener Kaufmann, e.K.) under proprietor Mohamed Aboulkacem, who assumed ownership on 1 May 2022. It operates three physical retail outlets within Düsseldorf: the flagship Grafenberger Apotheke, Grafentaler Apotheke (opened 15 December 2012 inside the DRK Seniorenzentrum Grafental senior living facility), and Sana Apotheke in the Gerresheim district. The pharmacy is registered and licensed under the German Apothekengesetz, and is TÜV-certified and GDPR-compliant.

The business dispenses prescription medications covered by German statutory (GKV) and private (PKV) health insurance, custom-compounded formulations (Defekturen), and over-the-counter (OTC) products. It operates within the regulated German pharmacy framework, including the gematik-mandated E-Rezept (electronic prescription) workflow, and offers adjacent services such as health screenings, Medela breast pump rental, international medication procurement for patients seeking drugs not authorized in Germany, home delivery, and an online reservation interface. Technology footprint is conventional: E-Rezept integration, an online reservation and e-commerce presence via ptcloud.de (a DocMorris-affiliated pharmacy platform), and corporate social media accounts on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. No proprietary AI or advanced analytics capability is indicated; digital tooling appears limited to standard pharmacy IT and basic web analytics.

The revenue model is transactional retail pharmacy economics: statutory reimbursement margins on Rx dispensing (capped under the Apothekenabschlag and pack-size discount rules), OTC retail markups, fees for compounded preparations, equipment rental income, and ancillary service fees. A customer loyalty card offers a 5% discount on OTC products. The customer base is a long tail of individual walk-in consumers in Düsseldorf neighborhoods, with a captive elderly cohort at the Grafentaler branch and a maternal/infant sub-segment served by the breast pump rental offering. No enterprise clients, no wholesale distribution, and no franchise model are present. The business is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds, headcount, or financial performance.

Name

Grafenberger Apotheke

Legal name

Mohamed Aboulkacem e.K.

Website

https://grafapo.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grafenberger Apotheke is a family-run German community pharmacy headquartered in Düsseldorf since 1908, operating three retail outlets that dispense prescriptions (including E-Rezept), OTC products, custom compounds, and rental medical equipment to local walk-in customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

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

Pharmacy-Led Health & Wellness Discount Retail (CRAEAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medication Education, Counseling & Side-Effect Monitoring (HSABALAJ), OTC, Vitamins & Supplement Management (HSABALAM)

Keywords

• Retail pharmacy services
• Prescription medication dispensing
• Health screening services
• Pharmaceutical compounding
• OTC medication sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Prescription Medication Dispensing: Core revenue stream from dispensing prescription medications to patients with valid prescriptions. Operates within German healthcare regulatory framework.
2. OTC Products and Health Supplements: Sale of over-the-counter medications, cosmetics, medical devices, and nutritional supplements. Customer card provides 5% discount on freiverkäufliche (OTC) products.
3. Pharmaceutical Services: Chargeable health screening services including blood pressure measurement, blood glucose testing, cholesterol screening, and bone density measurements. Includes pharmaceutical consultations and medication reviews.
4. Medical Equipment Rental: Rental of medical equipment such as Medela breast pumps (available at Grafenberger Apotheke location only)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Grafenberger Apotheke is a traditional German retail pharmacy dispensing prescription and OTC medications, compounded formulations, dietary supplements, and medical devices to local Düsseldorf residents across three physical locations. It provides paid health screenings (blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, BMI, vein checks, bone density), pharmaceutical consultations including polymedication reviews and inhalation training, Medela breast pump rental, compression stocking fitting, incontinence counseling, and home delivery. The pharmacy supports electronic prescriptions via the national E-Rezept app and offers an online reservation system for OTC pre-orders, with customer loyalty programs (Kundenkarte 5% discount, Treuepass, Verwöhnpass).

Product overview

Grafenberger Apotheke operates as a traditional pharmacy with three locations in Düsseldorf (Grafenberger Apotheke, Grafentaler Apotheke, and Sana Apotheke), offering a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical services and products. The core offering centers on prescription fulfillment (Rezeptbelieferung) and custom compounding (Rezepturherstellung), supplemented by electronic prescription (E-Rezept) services. The pharmacy provides health screening services including blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol testing, and bone density measurement. Additional services include Medela breast pump rental, home delivery, customer loyalty programs (Kundenkarte with 5% discount, Treuepass), and pharmaceutical consultations for polymedikation and inhalation techniques. The product portfolio includes Orthomol Immun dietary supplements, various over-the-counter medications (Cetirizine, Ibuprofen, Mometasone nasal spray), eye drops (HYLO-COMOD), and ThermaCare heat wraps. The pharmacy accepts all major credit cards and operates an online shop via ptcloud.de platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prescription Fulfillment (Rezeptbelieferung) including E-Rezept Processing and dispensing of prescription medications, including both paper prescriptions and electronic prescriptions (E-Rezepte) submitted via the gematik Das E-Rezept app or uploaded as prescription photos. Available to insured and self-paying patients with valid prescriptions (excluding controlled substances on Betäubungsmittel or T-Rezept forms).
• Custom Medication Compounding (Rezepturherstellung) Custom preparation and compounding of medications tailored to individual patient needs, including formulations not commercially available. In-house pharmaceutical compounding service for individualized prescriptions.
• Health Screening Services (Gesundheitschecks) Fee-based paid health screening services including blood pressure measurement, blood glucose testing, total cholesterol, differentiated cholesterol (LDL, HDL, triglycerides) at Grafentaler Apotheke only, uric acid measurement, body analysis/BMI at Grafentaler Apotheke only, venous check at Grafentaler Apotheke only, and bone density measurement at Grafentaler Apotheke only.
• Pharmaceutical Consultations (Pharmazeutische Dienstleistungen) Annual pharmaceutical care services including: blood pressure medication consultation (free once yearly for insured patients on prescribed antihypertensives), inhalation technique training (free once yearly for insured adults and children 6+ on prescribed inhaled medications), and extended medication review for polymedication patients (free once yearly for insured patients on 5+ prescribed medications in long-term therapy). Additional general consultations cover medications, health prevention, nutrition, travel, and cosmetics.
• Medela Breast Pump Rental (Medela-Milchpumpenverleih) Rental of Medela brand breast pumps for new mothers, available exclusively at the Grafenberger Apotheke flagship location.
• Home Delivery Service (Heimbelieferung / Lieferservice) Home delivery of medications, pharmacy products, care equipment, and incontinence products for customers unable to visit pharmacy locations in person.
• Compression Stocking Fitting and Nursing Supplies (Kompressionsstrumpfanmessung / Pflegehilfsmittelbelieferung) Compression stocking fitting and supply, and nursing care supplies delivery for patients requiring medical compression therapy and home care products.
• Incontinence Counseling (Inkontinenzberatung) Personalized counseling for patients managing incontinence, including product selection guidance and home care supply coordination.
• Kundenkarte (Customer Loyalty Card) Loyalty card offering 5% discount on freiverkäufliche (OTC) medications, medical products, cosmetics, and dietary supplements.
• International Medication Procurement Specialized service procuring medications and medical products from worldwide sources when not available locally, or organizing alternatives. Differentiated capability within the German licensed pharmacy framework.
• Orthomol Immun Dietary supplement containing micronutrients (Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, and other vitamins and minerals) designed to support immune system function. Sold as an OTC dietary supplement.
• Vitamin B-Komplex ratiopharm Dietary supplement containing all 8 B vitamins in 60 tablets, supporting energy metabolism. Sold as an OTC supplement.
• HYLO-COMOD Augentropfen (Eye Drops) Eye drops containing hyaluronic acid for moisturizing eye surfaces and treating dry eyes, 10ml format. Sold as an OTC product.
• ThermaCare Rückenumschlag (Heat Wraps) Heat wraps for back pain relief with optimized fit and stretchable design (sizes S-XL), 2 wraps per pack. Sold as an OTC product.
• MOMETA HEXAL Heuschnupfenspray (Allergy Nasal Spray) Nasal spray containing Mometasone furoate for symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis, 60 doses. Sold as an OTC product.
• CETIRIZIN Aristo 10 mg Film-coated tablets containing Cetirizine hydrochloride for treating allergic reactions, 20 tablets. Sold as an OTC antihistamine.
• IBUARISTO akut 400 mg (Ibuprofen) Ibuprofen tablets for short-term symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate pain (headache, toothache, menstrual pain, fever). Sold as an OTC analgesic.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free annual pharmaceutical services for patients with prescribed antihypertensive medications
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aponeo: Berlin-based online pharmacy offering prescription and OTC medication delivery across Germany. Direct competitor in online pharmacy space, competing for the same patient base with the same digital prescription fulfillment workflow.
• Shop Apotheke: European online pharmacy leader (Germany/Netherlands) listed in Germany, offering prescription and OTC delivery with broad product range and subscription options. Directly competes with traditional pharmacies on price and convenience for both OTC and prescription customers.
• DocMorris: Dutch-listed online pharmacy with major German market presence, dispensing prescription and OTC medications through mail-order delivery. Directly competes with Grafenberger for prescription fulfillment and OTC sales, especially for patients seeking convenience and price advantages.
• Sanicare: German online pharmacy (Bad Laer) offering prescription and OTC medication mail-order delivery. Competes directly with traditional pharmacies for non-urgent prescription fulfillment and OTC customers across Germany.
• Medipolis: German online pharmacy specializing in prescription medication delivery and pharmaceutical services. Direct competitor in online pharmacy fulfillment, particularly for chronic disease patients requiring regular medication delivery.
• Volksversand Apotheke: German online pharmacy offering prescription and OTC medication delivery with broad product range. Direct competitor for online prescription fulfillment and OTC sales, particularly for consumers seeking price advantages and home delivery.

Broad incumbents

• dm drogerie: Largest German drugstore chain with extensive OTC health, supplement, and personal care product offerings. Adjacent competitor for OTC and supplement sales, serves as a destination for consumers seeking convenience in non-prescription health products.
• Rossmann: Major German drugstore chain with broad OTC, supplement, and personal care product assortment. Competes with traditional pharmacies for OTC sales and supplements, with a more value-focused positioning and national footprint.
• easyApotheke: German discount pharmacy chain with physical locations across Germany, focusing on value pricing and broad OTC assortment. Overlaps with Grafenberger on pharmacy retail and OTC but operates at significantly larger scale with discount positioning.
• Müller: German retail chain combining drugstore, cosmetics, and health products with select pharmacy services. Broad incumbent in health/wellness retail with nationwide presence, competing for OTC and supplement share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grafenberger-apotheke

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Grafenberger Apotheke