Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs operate a Western Canadian franchise pharmacy network of nearly 40 independently owned stores under Pharmacy Brands Canada, delivering prescription dispensing, immunizations, and health services across Alberta and British Columbia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersEdmonton, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs does
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs operate as a unified Western Canadian community pharmacy franchise network under Edmonton-based Pharmacy Brands Canada. The two retail banners were founded in 1978 (Value Drug Mart) and 1996 (Apple Drugs), and today encompass nearly 40 independently owned locations across Alberta and British Columbia, each operated by a local pharmacist-owner supported by Pharmacy Brands Canada's centralized purchasing, generic formulary, marketing, and distribution infrastructure. The network charges no banner fees to franchisees while providing full brand and operational support, positioning the franchise model around preserving local ownership autonomy alongside collective scale.
The core offering is full-service community pharmacy: prescription dispensing, Additional Prescribing Authority, medication reviews, compounding, immunization services (flu, COVID, shingles), travel health consultations, smoking cessation support, free medication delivery, compliance packaging, and OTC product sales. Underlying digital infrastructure includes dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications for each banner, a Quick Refill web portal for prescription management using phone number and Rx numbers, a Health Portal with A-Z medical condition articles, CASL-compliant email newsletters, and weekly digital flyers distributed through the Flipp platform. Social media engagement is maintained primarily via Facebook.
Revenue is generated principally through transaction-based prescription dispensing fees, OTC product sales, and professional service fees (immunizations, consultations, compounding) at the individual store level, supplemented by centralized franchise services provided by Pharmacy Brands Canada. The customer base comprises individual consumers and families seeking personalized community pharmacy care, with a secondary B2B segment of independent pharmacists seeking ownership with brand and operational support. Leadership is led by President & CEO Jon Johnson, with Kevin Sagert overseeing store operations. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds or external investors.
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs
- Legal name
- Pharmacy Brands Canada
- Website
- https://valuedrugmart.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs operate a Western Canadian franchise pharmacy network of nearly 40 independently owned stores under Pharmacy Brands Canada, delivering prescription dispensing, immunizations, and health services across Alberta and British Columbia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Pharmacy Services
- NAICS
- Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110)
- SIC
- Retail-Drug Stores And Proprietary Stores (5912)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Discount Drugstores (Value-Focused Chain Pharmacies) (CRAEAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent) (HLAFALAA), Value Pharmacies & Deep-Discount Pharmacy Retail (CRAEAHAB)
Keywords
Where Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edmonton
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Prescription Dispensing: Full-service pharmacy dispensing prescription medications to customers with various services including Additional Prescribing Authority, medication reviews, and compounding
- Over-the-Counter Products: Sale of OTC medications, health products, personal care, and home essentials
- Immunization Services: Vaccination services including flu shots, COVID vaccinations, and shingles vaccines
- Health Consultations: Travel health consultations, medication reviews, and smoking cessation support
- Medication Delivery: Free medication delivery service to customers who cannot visit the pharmacy
- Compounding: Personalized medication tailored to unique health needs
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Pharmacy services with varying fees depending on service type |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs operate a network of nearly 40 independently owned community pharmacies across Western Canada (Alberta and British Columbia), delivering prescription dispensing, immunizations, compounding, medication reviews, travel health consultations, smoking cessation support, compliance packaging, OTC products, and free medication delivery. Each location is locally owned and supported by centralized purchasing, marketing, distribution, and a competitive generic formulary from parent Pharmacy Brands Canada, with no banner fees.
Product overview
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs operate as a unified pharmacy network offering comprehensive healthcare services through two branded retail chains. The company provides a core pharmacy services suite including prescription dispensing, medication management, immunizations, and travel health consultations. Digital offerings include mobile applications for both brands (Value Drug Mart app and Apple Drugs app) enabling prescription refills and health management, a Quick Refill service for convenient prescription renewals, a digital flyer system via the Flipp platform, and a Health Portal with educational content on medical conditions. The pharmacy services are delivered through approximately 40 independently owned locations across Alberta and British Columbia, supported by centralized operations from Pharmacy Brands Canada.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Value Drug Mart Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android that lets Value Drug Mart customers order prescription refills, submit prescriptions, and manage their pharmacy needs on the go.
- Apple Drugs Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android that lets Apple Drugs customers order prescription refills and access pharmacy services from the Apple Drugs brand on the go.
- Quick Refill Online prescription refill service for Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs customers that uses phone number and Rx numbers to enable refills, with login access to view prescriptions before placing orders.
- Pharmacy Services Comprehensive suite of in-pharmacy services for Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs customers, including prescription dispensing, Additional Prescribing Authority, blood pressure monitoring, compliance packaging, compounding, immunizations (flu, COVID, shingles), medication delivery, medication reviews, OTC recommendations, prescription transfer, smoking cessation support, and travel health consultations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 45+ years in business with nearly 40 locations
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Pharmacy Brands CanadacoreEdmonton-based parent organization that owns the Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs brands. Provides franchise support including purchasing power, coordinated marketing, competitive generic formulary, and centralized distribution. Philosophy emphasizes preserving store owner independence while providing centralized support systems.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rexall: Rexall is a Canadian chain pharmacy operating corporate locations across multiple provinces. It is comparable as a wide-format retail pharmacy competitor offering prescription dispensing, front-store merchandise, and clinical services in markets that overlap with Value Drug Mart's Alberta and BC presence.
- Shoppers Drug Mart: Shoppers Drug Mart, owned by Loblaw, is Canada's largest chain pharmacy operator with over 1,300 locations nationwide. It is comparable as a direct competitor in retail pharmacy and front-store merchandise across Western Canada, though it operates a corporate rather than independent ownership model.
Direct peers
- Pharmasave: Pharmasave is a Canadian-owned cooperative/network of independent community pharmacies operating across Canada with a similar franchise/associate ownership model. Like Value Drug Mart, it provides centralized purchasing, marketing, and operational support to independent pharmacist-owners while preserving local autonomy.
- Neighbourly Pharmacy: Neighbourly Pharmacy is a TSX-listed Canadian pharmacy consolidator that acquires and operates independent community pharmacies across Canada. It is directly comparable because it both serves as a competitive threat (when it acquires banner-affiliated independents) and operates in the same Western Canadian independent pharmacy market.
- IDA Pharmacy: IDA Pharmacy is a Canadian banner program for independent pharmacies operating under the McKesson Canada umbrella. It is comparable to Value Drug Mart as both offer independent pharmacist-owners a recognized brand, purchasing scale, and operational support while preserving store-level autonomy.
- Guardian Pharmacy: Guardian is a Canadian banner network of independently owned pharmacies that provides its member-pharmacists with centralized services, marketing, and purchasing support. The banner model is structurally similar to Value Drug Mart's franchise approach, addressing Canadian pharmacist-owners seeking independence with group benefits.
Emerging players
- PocketPills: PocketPills is a Canadian digital pharmacy offering free prescription delivery across Canada via a tech-enabled mail-order model. It is comparable as a competitive force in prescription fulfillment, particularly for refill-driven customers, representing a digital disruption vector Value Drug Mart's mobile refill tools must counter.
Others
- McKesson Canada: McKesson Canada is the country's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor, also operating the IDA and Guardian pharmacy banners. It is comparable as a key infrastructure provider (wholesale distribution) for independent pharmacy networks like Value Drug Mart and as the parent of two direct peers.
Regional players
- London Drugs: London Drugs is a Western Canadian retail chain with full-service pharmacies across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. It is comparable as a regional competitor operating in the same geographic footprint as Value Drug Mart, offering similar pharmacy services plus broader general merchandise.
- Jean Coutu: Jean Coutu is a Quebec-based pharmacy chain serving primarily Quebec and New Brunswick. It is comparable as a regional chain pharmacy with a focus on pharmacist-owned franchise locations, though it operates primarily outside Value Drug Mart's Western Canadian geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs social profiles
Digital presenceValue Drug Mart and Apple Drugs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs
What does Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs do?
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs operate a network of nearly 40 independently owned community pharmacies across Western Canada (Alberta and British Columbia), delivering prescription dispensing, immunizations, compounding, medication reviews, travel health consultations, smoking cessation support, compliance packaging, OTC products, and free medication delivery. Each location is locally owned and supported by centralized purchasing, marketing, distribution, and a competitive generic formulary from parent Pharmacy Brands Canada, with no banner fees.
Is Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs a public or private company?
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs founded?
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs was founded in 1978. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs based?
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Prescription Dispensing is the primary driver. The others are over-the-Counter Products, immunization Services, health Consultations, medication Delivery and compounding.
Who are Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rexall and Shoppers Drug Mart. Direct peers are Pharmasave, Neighbourly Pharmacy, IDA Pharmacy and Guardian Pharmacy. PocketPills is listed as an emerging player. McKesson Canada is listed as an others. Regional players are London Drugs and Jean Coutu.
Does Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs.
What industry is Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs in?
Value Drug Mart and Apple Drugs's product category is Retail Pharmacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAEAHAA, Discount Drugstores (Value-Focused Chain Pharmacies), with a secondary code of HLAFALAA, Retail & Community Pharmacies (Chain/Independent). Its NAICS code is 456110 and its SIC code is 5912.