Growell, Quall and Medipal forms business alliances

Aeon’s drug store chain, Growell, Quall, a major pharmacy chain, and the nation’s largest wholesaler of pharmaceutical products, Medipal Holdings, recently announced that the three parties have agreed to establish business alliances, according to Chain Store Age Japan.

Under the alliance they plan to jointly develop a new drug store format that combines pharmacy, sharing of pharmacist education programs, development of complementary private-branded products, and work together as a team to develop medical centers housing multiple health clinics and pharmacies.

Growell operates drug stores under Welcia Kanto, Takada Pharmacy and Terashima Pharmacy banners. Aeon group is the largest stockholder of Growell, retaining 29.35% of its shares.

Medipal (former Mediceo Paltac Holdings, changed its corporate name to Medipal on October 1, 2009), is the top shareholder of Quall, retaining 31.88% of its shares. Mitsubishi Shoji is another major shareholder of Quall.

Aeon and Mitsubishi Shoji has been deepening the relationship in recent years as evidenced by the comprehensive business alliance agreement entered in December 2008 as well as Aeon’s acquisition of a TV shopping business that operated under Mitsubishi Shoji group and making it a consolidated subsidiary of Aeon in August 2008.