Despite the fact that the high demand for drugs in March this year, helped pharmacy chains to increase sales, their combined share fell for the first time. In the first quarter of the top 30 representatives of the pharmaceutical retail took a total of 62.3% of the market, up from 64% a year earlier. The decline in the share contributed to remote mode, which many companies have already moved in March. As a result, consumers began to go to the pharmacy closer to home, and they were often small point.In the first quarter of 2020, most of the largest Russian pharmacy chains significantly increased the dynamics of sales growth year-on-year. So, according to the DSM Group, which read “b”, the sales volume of the pharmacy network “Rigla” has increased by 27% compared to the first quarter of 2019 — to 24.6 billion rubles, while a year earlier the indicator of the growth was only 19%. The network “36,6” increased sales by 22%, to 15.2 billion rubles, with zero dynamics in the past year. In the pharmacy “April” in the same period sold goods 11.9 billion rubles or 56% more than in 2019, when growth was 37%.The increase in the dynamics of sales growth in DSM Group is associated with excessive demand on the pharmacy range in March. This, in turn, contributed to the fall of the ruble and the fear of rising the price of pharmaceuticals and the proliferation of COVID-19. So, in the middle of the month, market participants noted a surge in sales of 50% is typical for this time of 10%.But the positive aspects for market farmriteyl ended. Although first quarter private network and was able to increase revenues, but the combined market share of 30 largest Russian pharmacy chains for the first time has decreased from 64% to 62.3%.In mid-March, many companies switched to the remote mode of operation, which led to the change in customer flow, draws the attention of the General Director DSM Group Sergey shuljak. He explained that consumers began to buy drugs in pharmacies at the house, who often do not belong to large networks. As a result, the expert does not exclude small players were able to increase sales even more than those included in the thirty largest retailers. According to Sergey Shulyak, this trend will continue even after the lifting of restrictions, because after the lifting of the quarantine, many consumers will still be afraid to leave the house in the far distance.However, market players believe the drop in the combined share of the largest players in the minor. The General Director, Rigla Alexander Filippov calls the decline 0.7%, market accuracy. “While some of the network leaders experience a period of stagnation, others show growth,” he insists. He does not consider the speculative demand for drugs on the background of the pandemic the main cause of sales growth. According to a top Manager, “P��GLA” increased sales volume primarily due to organic growth and the accession of new pharmacies.At the same time, some market players showed a drop in sales or only a slight increase. So, according to the DSM Group, the sales network, “Aloe Vera” decreased by 11% to 1.7 billion rubles, against a growth of 16% a year earlier. Are unable to increase sales and “Petersburg drugstores”, which increased the negative trend of 3% from a year earlier to 8% in the first quarter of 2020. Network “Vita” has increased the sales volume of only 14%, to 12.2 billion rubles, with growth of 47% a year earlier. This situation could occur because some market players were not available of those goods, for which demand skyrocketed, says Sergey Shulyak. For this reason, some pharmdistributor were able to demonstrate more than competitors sales growth. So, at the end of the first quarter in this segment was again replaced by the largest player — they became FC “Pulse”, volume shipments which rose by 27%, while its nearest competitor by CV PROTEK for only 12%. The advantage was that on whose warehouses were more goods have become popular, for example, antiviral, and antipyretic agents, said earlier Sergey shuljak.Maria Kotova*compared to the first quarter of 2019.Source: DSM Group.
