Discount Drug Stores (DDS) wrapped up its successful annual conference on the Gold Coast on the weekend with a gala event to celebrate the pharmacy brand’s national award winner for 2024.
Pharmacy representatives from every DDS store across the country attended the conference and a host of suppliers and special guests.
Sigma Healthcare CEO Vikesh Ramsunder presented the keynote address on Friday where he emphasised the importance of the DDS brand and Sigma’s commitment to grow the number of stores across Australia.
“Sigma is very committed to enhancing the DDS brand and has set a target of 150 DDS stores in the medium term. We have strengthened our retail team and are implementing best-in-class retail management practices to support our DDS pharmacies. Over the next six months, we will launch over 220 private and exclusive label products into our DDS stores, offering customers even greater value, and a fantastic product range’’ he said.
“The theme of this year’s conference was Solid Ground and that’s a great description of where we have progressed the DDS brand in recent years. We have now built a solid foundation for future growth as we continue to support our pharmacies to achieve retail excellence,” he said.
Award Winners
DDS Pharmacy Awards
At Saturday night’s Gala Event, the annual DDS awards were announced in the following categories.
- Marketing: Deception Bay Discount Drug Store
- Professional Services: Thornton Discount Drug Store
- Community Engagement: Balwyn North Discount Drug Store
- Pharmacy Assistant of the Year: Renee Hand, Thornton Discount Drug Store
- Retail Manager of the Year: Shannon Greer, Thornton Discount Drug Store
- Business Development Manager of the Year: Megan Gardiner, Sigma HealthcareState Store of the Year winners:
- Queensland: Scenic Rim Discount Drug Store
- NSW/ACT: Thornton Discount Drug Store
- Victoria/Tasmania/South Australia: Balwyn North Discount Drug Store
- Western Australia: Albany Plaza Discount Drug Store
- Overall National winner: Thornton Discount Drug Store
Supplier awards
Sigma’s supplier partners were also celebrated at the Gala Event and we thank them for their ongoing support and partnership. Congratulations to all nominees and winners who were crowned on the night:
- Baby & General Merchandise Supplier of the Year: Nice Pak Products
- Beauty & Personal Care Supplier of the Year: Procter & Gamble
- Health & Wellbeing Supplier of the Year: Caruso’s Natural Health
- Medicines Supplier of the Year: Kenvue
- Ethicals Supplier of the Year: Arrotex Pharmaceuticals
- National Supplier of the Year: Arrotex Pharmaceuticals
