A milestone built on twenty years of expanding access to healthcare through trusted expertise, affordable prices healthcare solutions and care that stays close to customers.
Dr. Max Group becomes Europe’s largest pharmacy chain by number of pharmacies
Dr. Max Group is now Europe’s largest pharmacy chain by number of pharmacies. Entering the second half of 2026 with more than 3 300 pharmacies and with a joint-venture investment in a further 580+ pharmacies, , the Group has reached a new milestone after two decades of making healthcare more accessible, more affordable and more relevant for millions of people across Europe.
“Twenty years ago, we set out to make quality healthcare more accessible. Since then, the role of the pharmacy has evolved far beyond dispensing medicines. By staying close to our customers and continuously adapting to their changing needs, we’ve expanded the way we care for patients and customers. Becoming Europe’s largest pharmacy chain is not a story about size. It’s the result of two decades of resilience, customer-centric thinking and a commitment to making healthcare more accessible, affordable and relevant for every community we serve.”, Leonardo Ferrandino, President & CEO, Dr. Max Group.
The growth behind the milestone
Behind this position lies a decade of disciplined growth. Dr. Max closed 2025 with record revenue of €6,3 billion (+14,7% YoY) and is on track to exceed €7 billion in revenue in 2026. The performance is driven by genuine customer demand, not expansion alone, while since 2016 the Group has maintained a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 20%[1].
That growth reflects a long-term shift in customer preference. Year after year, Dr. Max has strengthened its Brand Equity, earning a leading position in customers’ minds across Europe. Today, the brand ranks number 1 in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Italy, and is among the top three pharmacy brands in Poland and Serbia[2].
Independent Ipsos Brand Health Tracking also shows a clear shift in customer perception over the past two years. Customers increasingly perceive Dr. Max as more accessible (+4,2 pts vs 2023), more innovative (+4,5 pts), “a pharmacy for people like me” (+3,3 pts) and “offering everything I need” (+2,7 pts)[3]. At the same time, the Group continues to outperform market averages on affordability and value for money across nearly all of its core markets.
Together, these results reflect Dr. Max’s long-term strategy of making healthcare more accessible in every sense, through a dense pharmacy network, affordable healthcare solutions, trusted professional advice and an increasingly connected omnichannel experience that allows customers to access care whenever, wherever and however they choose.
Built deep, not just wide
Across Europe, more than 160 000 pharmacies put a point of care within reach of almost every community, approximately one for every 3 245 people[4]. As healthcare systems continue to face increasing pressure, pharmacies are taking on a broader role as first point of contact within the primary care, particularly in prevention, self-care and early diagnostics.
Dr. Max combines one of Europe’s largest pharmacy networks with an integrated omnichannel experience, allowing customers to move easily between pharmacies, e-commerce, mobile applications and click & collect services. The Group continues to grow across its six core markets (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Poland, Italy and Serbia), while selectively pursuing further expansion through new pharmacy openings, acquisitions and future market opportunities. Magna Sales & Marketing, a division of the Group, already operates across 18 European countries and continues to expand its partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers This scale creates greater access to healthcare. In 2025 alone, Dr. Max pharmacists delivered growing number of vaccinations alongside more than 364 000 preventive care screenings and services (+349% YoY)[5], including HbA1c and blood glucose testing, lipid profile screening and CRP rapid diagnostics.
The trust behind the lead
More than 22 000 employees and 13,2 million loyal customers are not simply indicators of scale. They reflect two decades spent earning trust by staying close to communities, adapting to changing healthcare needs and making quality healthcare more accessible and affordable. “Behind every milestone are our people. Their dedication, together with the long-term vision and support of Penta Investments, has enabled Dr. Max to continuously grow, innovate and improve healthcare for millions of people. “Leonardo Ferrandino, President & CEO, Dr. Max Group. Europe’s largest pharmacy network is therefore not the story of Dr. Max’s success. It is the outcome of consistently putting customers first.
[1] Consolidated Annual Report
[2] IPSOS Brand Health Tracking studies, 2023-2026
[3] IPSOS Brand Health Tracking studies, 2023-2026
Dr. Max Group is a European pharmaceutical concern owned by Penta, an investment group established in 1994, operating primarily in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Their offices are located in Prague, Bratislava, Warsaw, and Limassol. The business areas of Penta Investments include long-term investing in healthcare, financial services, retail, manufacturing, media and real estate development. The companies of Penta’s portfolio employ more than 43,000 people, with more than 15,000 professionals working in healthcare. The group’s assets value reached €14 billion in 2022.