Dis-Chem's new Health Hub stores: what changes when you shop
Dis-Chem is rolling out a new store format with a central Health Hub for pharmacy, clinic and insurance services. All new stores get it and older ones will be revamped. Here's what changes, and what its results say about Better Rewards.
Dis-Chem is rebuilding its stores around a single "Health Hub" counter where you queue for the pharmacy, book a clinic appointment and speak to an insurance adviser in one place. Every new Dis-Chem will use the format, and existing stores are being lined up for revamps (Dis-Chem results, SENS).
The plan came with the pharmacy group's interim results on 29 October 2026, which showed sales up but profit down as it spends on new stores and technology.
What is the Dis-Chem Health Hub?
It's the centre of Dis-Chem's new "Store of the Future" layout. According to BusinessTech, the hub brings together services that used to sit in different corners of the store:
- pharmacy queues
- clinic bookings
- advisers for medical, funeral and life insurance products
- admin such as check-ins, identity checks, consent forms, payments and loyalty sign-ups
Dedicated staff at the hub are meant to point you to the right service, BusinessTech reported.
Which Dis-Chem stores have the new format?
The first two opened at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg and Irene Village in Centurion. Dis-Chem says both are trading 25% better than its older-format stores did at the same early stage (SENS).
Five stores now trade in the new format. Dis-Chem plans 30 new pharmacy stores in its 2027 financial year (19 are already open), and all new stores get the Health Hub layout (SENS).
Will my local Dis-Chem change?
Possibly, but not all at once. Dis-Chem says existing stores are being ranked for a full revamp by how much extra revenue and profit each could bring, with some revamps brought forward (SENS). BusinessTech reports the aim is to revamp the whole store base over five years (BusinessTech). Dis-Chem has not published a list of which stores are next.
Is Better Rewards staying?
Yes. Dis-Chem credits the programme, relaunched in October 2025, for most of its sales growth. Better Rewards swapped points for instant discounts at the till (TechCentral), and Dis-Chem's website advertises an instant 10% off on more than 180 brands for members (Dis-Chem).
In its first year the programme gave back R1.5 billion in instant discounts. Active members rose 27% to 8.2 million, and members now make up 86.1% of Dis-Chem's sales. The number of participating brands grew from 140 to 200 (SENS).
How did Dis-Chem do financially?
Sales grew, but earnings and the dividend fell.
| Six months to 31 August | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group revenue | R21.3 billion | R23.0 billion | up 8.0% |
| Headline earnings per share | 73.8c | 64.3c | down 12.8% |
| Interim dividend per share | 29.42c | 25.62c | down 12.9% |
Source: Dis-Chem interim results, SENS
Headline earnings came to R550.1 million, down from R632.5 million (BusinessTech). Dis-Chem blamed higher spending on its digital and data unit, X, bigly labs, where costs doubled, plus pressure on wholesale margins and temporary price cuts linked to Better Rewards (BusinessTech). It has put R240 million into rebuilding its website, app and online systems (SENS).
In the seven weeks from 1 September to 19 October 2026, group revenue was up 7.9% on a year earlier (SENS).
Who runs Dis-Chem now?
Rui Morais has been CEO since founder Ivan Saltzman stepped down from that role in July 2023. Saltzman resigned as an executive director on 30 June 2026, and long-serving director Stanley Goetsch retired on the same day (BusinessTech). Dis-Chem says a company restructure is 60% done and should be finished by December 2026 (SENS).
FAQ
What is Dis-Chem's Store of the Future?
It's Dis-Chem's new store layout, built around a central Health Hub where pharmacy queues, clinic bookings, insurance advisers and admin such as check-ins and payments are handled in one place. All new Dis-Chem stores will use it.
Where can I visit a new-format Dis-Chem?
The first two opened at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg and Irene Village in Centurion. Dis-Chem says five stores now trade in the new format but has not listed the others.
Is Dis-Chem Better Rewards still available?
Yes. Better Rewards gives members instant discounts at the till on participating brands. Dis-Chem says it has 8.2 million active members and 200 participating brands.
Is Dis-Chem closing stores?
Its latest results don't mention closures. Dis-Chem plans 30 new pharmacy stores in its 2027 financial year and is revamping existing stores.