What Medicine Shoppe Canada does

Medicine Shoppe Canada Corporation is a Canadian pharmacy franchise network operating more than 200 independently owned pharmacy locations across 10 provinces and territories. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, and founded in 1999, the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of McKesson Canada Corporation and part of the broader McKesson Group of pharmacy banners (alongside I.D.A., Guardian, Rexall, Uniprix, Proxim, and Well.ca). The franchise network serves individual Canadian patients through prescription dispensing, vaccinations (flu, travel, COVID-19, and other immunizations), chronic disease assessments and monitoring (diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory), medication customization (blister packs, therapy adjustment, synchronization), and wellness consultations including smoking cessation and travel health.

The company's technology platform centers on McKesson's pharmacy management software, the Your Health App (mobile and web application for prescription management, refills, renewals, transfers, and pharmacy location), and PharmacyConnect for appointment booking. Supporting systems include the Pharm/Assist drug information database, eSSENTIAL Accessibility for WCAG 2.0 and AODA digital accessibility compliance, and the Option+ private label product brand. Telemedicine Services have been added to extend care delivery beyond in-person pharmacy visits. The platform architecture relies on third-party infrastructure (McKesson systems, PharmacyConnect, Google Maps, Vigilance Santé for patient leaflets) rather than proprietary AI or data science assets.

The business model operates through franchised retail locations paying franchise fees and royalties to Medicine Shoppe Canada Corporation, supplemented by transaction-based revenue from prescription dispensing, professional service fees for vaccinations and consultations, and product sales including Option+ private label OTC items. Pricing varies by provincial drug plan and individual insurance coverage; no standardized public pricing exists. Customer acquisition combines physical retail presence, the Your Health App, online prescription transfer tools, content marketing through the Pharm/Assist health resource, monthly email newsletters, and local franchise-led marketing. The corporate entity employs 267 staff supporting the franchise network, with no disclosed enterprise customers, B2B contracts, or institutional payer concentration.

Name

Medicine Shoppe Canada

Legal name

Medicine Shoppe Canada Corporation

Website

https://medicineshoppe.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Medicine Shoppe Canada is a pharmacy franchise network operating 200+ independently owned locations across 10 Canadian provinces and territories, owned by McKesson Canada, providing prescription dispensing, vaccinations, chronic disease management, and medication customization to individual Canadian patients via retail and digital app channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Pharmacy Services

NAICS

Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110)

SIC

Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmacy-Led Health & Wellness Discount Retail (CRAEAHAD), Retail & Pharmacy-Based Urgent Care Clinics (HLAFADAE)

Keywords

• Retail pharmacy services
• Prescription dispensing
• Pharmacy franchise network
• Medication management
• Community pharmacy care

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Prescription Dispensing: Core revenue stream from dispensing prescription medications to patients. Franchise pharmacies process prescriptions through McKesson's pharmacy management software.
2. Vaccination Services: Revenue from administering vaccines including flu shots, travel vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, and other immunizations.
3. Health Consultations: Professional services including medication reviews, chronic disease management consultations, smoking cessation counseling, and wellness consultations.
4. OTC and Private Label Products: Sale of over-the-counter medications and the Option+ private label product line.
5. Medication Customization Services: Services including personalized medication packaging (blister packs), medication synchronization, and therapy adjustments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Medicine Shoppe Canada operates a franchise pharmacy network of 200+ independently owned retail locations across 10 Canadian provinces and territories, dispensing prescription medications and delivering pharmacist-led clinical services. In-pharmacy services cover vaccinations (flu, travel, COVID-19, and other immunizations), medication customization (blister packs and personalized packaging), chronic disease assessments and monitoring, and wellness consultations. Customers also access the Your Health App, online prescription transfers, and Option+ private label products for end-to-end pharmacy care.

Product overview

Medicine Shoppe Canada operates as a pharmacy franchise network offering a unified platform combining physical pharmacy locations with digital health services. The core offering centers on the Your Health App (mobile/web application) for prescription management, refills, and pharmacy location, supported by in-pharmacy services including vaccinations, medication customization, health assessments, and wellness consultations. The Option+ private label brand provides monthly featured products, while Telemedicine Services enable virtual healthcare access. Additional modules include prescription transfer, the Pharm/Assist drug database, OHIP+ integration, and various specialty health services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Option+™: Private label brand featuring monthly featured products.
• Your Health App

Products and services

• Your Health App Mobile and web application enabling Canadian patients to manage prescriptions, submit refills and renewals, view health records, transfer prescriptions between pharmacies, view monthly flyers, and locate nearby Medicine Shoppe pharmacies.
• Option+ Private Label Products Private label brand featuring monthly featured over-the-counter and personal care products promoted through in-store flyers and the Your Health App.
• Telemedicine Services Remote healthcare consultation services enabling Canadian patients to access medical care virtually through connected healthcare providers beyond the physical pharmacy counter.
• Prescription Transfer Service Online prescription transfer service allowing patients to transfer prescriptions from any current pharmacy to a chosen Medicine Shoppe location through a secure digital form.
• Vaccination Services Pharmacy-administered vaccinations including flu shots, travel vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines, and immunizations against common diseases, available at Medicine Shoppe locations and booked through PharmacyConnect.
• Medication Customization Services Personalized medication services including therapy adjustments, customized compounding, and blister pack or personalized packaging designed to improve medication adherence.
• Assessments and Monitoring Services Pharmacist-led health assessment and monitoring services for diabetes, cardiovascular health, and respiratory conditions provided in Medicine Shoppe pharmacies.
• Wellness Consultation Services Pharmacist-led wellness consultations including pharmacy clinic visits, travel health advice, maternity and pregnancy support, and smoking cessation programs.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McKesson Canada CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedicine Shoppe Canada is owned and operated by McKesson Canada Corporation. McKesson provides pharmacy management software, supply chain infrastructure, operational support, and digital platform infrastructure (Your Health App, website). The partnership enables franchise pharmacies to leverage McKesson's scale and technology.
• McKesson Group Banner PharmaciesminorOthersMedicine Shoppe is part of the McKesson Group which includes other banner pharmacies: Pharmessor Group Corporation (Uniprix, Proxim), Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd., McKesson Canada Corporation (I.D.A., Guardian), McKesson Specialty Prescription Services Corporation (Well.ca Pharmacy), and Well.ca ULC. The Privacy Policy indicates data sharing among McKesson Group entities.
• eSSENTIAL AccessibilitycoreTechnology or IntegrationMedicine Shoppe has partnered with eSSENTIAL Accessibility to administer its accessibility program and oversee governance. Their accessibility program evaluates digital products on an ongoing basis in accordance with best practices, supported by a team of accessibility professionals including users of assistive technologies. The platform makes assistive CX technology available to customers who have difficulty typing, gesturing, moving a mouse, or reading.
• Vigilance Santé Inc.minorOthersPatient information leaflets for medications (such as Atasol-30) are provided by Vigilance Santé Inc. This third-party provides drug information content for the pharmacy's Pharm/Assist database.
• PharmacyConnectcoreTechnology or IntegrationPharmacyConnect provides the online appointment booking system used by Medicine Shoppe pharmacies for scheduling vaccination appointments and other pharmacy services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Guardian Pharmacy: Canadian pharmacy banner under McKesson Canada, operating independently owned franchise locations. Direct comparable franchise pharmacy model leveraging shared McKesson infrastructure, services, and procurement; competes for the same franchisees and patient base.
• Jean Coutu: Major Canadian pharmacy chain (owned by Metro Inc.) with ~400+ locations primarily in Quebec and Eastern Canada, plus franchised PJC Jean Coutu and Brunet banners. Direct comparable in retail pharmacy dispensing, private label (Dermagrip, Personnelle), and clinical services; competes with Medicine Shoppe in shared geographies.
• Rexall: Canadian retail pharmacy chain owned by McKesson Canada Corporation (sibling company to Medicine Shoppe under the same McKesson Group). Operates corporate and franchise Rexall locations providing prescription dispensing, health services, and Be Well private label. Direct comparable in pharmacy services and McKesson-shared infrastructure.
• Uniprix: Quebec-based pharmacy banner under Pharmessor Group (a McKesson subsidiary), operating franchise locations primarily in Quebec. Direct comparable as a franchise pharmacy under the McKesson umbrella with similar service offerings.
• Proxim: Quebec-based pharmacy banner under Pharmessor Group (McKesson subsidiary), operating affiliated franchise pharmacies. Direct comparable franchise pharmacy model serving Canadian consumers with prescription and clinical services.
• Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix: Canada's largest retail pharmacy chain (owned by Loblaw Companies), operating ~1,300+ locations under the Shoppers Drug Mart (English Canada) and Pharmaprix (Quebec) banners. Directly comparable franchise/associate model with prescription dispensing, vaccinations, loyalty program (PC Optimum), and clinical services; serves as the dominant competitor Medicine Shoppe must differentiate against.
• I.D.A. Pharmacy: Canadian pharmacy banner under McKesson Canada alongside Medicine Shoppe, with independently owned franchise locations across Canada. Direct comparable as a franchise pharmacy network sharing McKesson's supply chain, pharmacy management software, and operational support.

Broad incumbents

• Walmart Canada Pharmacy: Big-box retailer operating in-store pharmacies across Canada with prescription dispensing and basic vaccinations. Broader incumbent competing on price and convenience for one-stop shopping; not a franchise model but a meaningful retail pharmacy competitor.
• Loblaw Pharmacy: Grocery-anchored pharmacy counters in Loblaw banner stores (Loblaws, Zehrs, Provigo, etc.) owned by Loblaw Companies alongside Shoppers Drug Mart. Broader incumbent offering prescription dispensing as part of grocery retail, capturing convenience-driven prescription volume.
• Costco Canada Pharmacy: Membership warehouse club operating in-store pharmacies in Canada with prescription dispensing at competitive prices. Broader incumbent capturing prescription volume through member base; not a franchise pharmacy but a significant alternative channel.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/medicine-shoppe-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Medicine Shoppe Canada