Chemist Direct is a UK-based company providing medical products and services in addition to beauty products online.
2007âÂÂ2013:
Founded in 2007 by Mitesh and Krishna Soma in Birmingham, the company attracted early investmentâÂÂincluding around ã3â¯million from AtomicoâÂÂin 2009. In 2011, Stuart Rowe was appointed CEO, and by 2013 the company raised approximately $10â¯million from Atomico, Lepe Partners, and DMG Media to support rapid growth in online prescription, health advice, and pet medicines.
2016: Merger with Pharmacy2U
In July 2016, Chemistâ¯Direct merged with NHS repeat-prescription-focused Pharmacy2U in a deal worth over ã40â¯million. The combined business claimed a customer base of 1.5â¯million and capacity to dispense up to 1 million prescription items per month. Mark Livingstone became CEO and Pharmacy2U founder Daniel Lee became COO.
2016-2020: Post-merger evolution
The merged entity scaled NHS repeat dispensing and clinician-led services. By May 2019, Pharmacy2UâÂÂnow inclusive of Chemistâ¯Direct offeringsâÂÂwas dispensing over 500,000 medication items per month with more than 350,000 EPS-affiliated patients. Revenue rose from ã25.8â¯m in 2017 to ã43.2â¯m in 2018, despite posting losses around ã16â¯mâÂÂã20â¯m. Chemist Direct continued to sell under its trade name.
2020-2023: Expansion
In 2023, Pharmacy2U acquired LloydsDirect, integrating it under a unified brand and combining strengths in digital prescription fulfillment and clinical care.
In July 2016, it announced a merger with Pharmacy2U.