Last week’s headlines included the announcement that Australian discount pharmacy Chemist Warehouse will be entering the UK via a JV, Holland & Barrett’s partnership with Phlo to offer a holistic approach to weight management, and the winners of the NutraIngredients Europe Awards.
Aussie discount pharmacy chain to set foot in the UK
Chemist Warehouse is entering the UK market through a joint venture with London-based GreenLight pharmacies, starting by converting selected GreenLight stores to its brand.
Chemist Warehouse currently runs over 553 outlets in Australia - including a mix of franchise and company-owned stores. Its high-volume, low-margin business model saw the firm bring in total retail network sales of A$10.3bn (US$7.41bn), up 14%, for FY25.
The pharmacy chain will initially rebrand up to five stores, focusing on retail products like vitamins, beauty, and personal care, rather than traditional pharmaceutical dispensary.
The plan comes as part of a MoU signed by Greenlight Healthcare Limited and Sigma Healthcare - which merged with Chemist Warehouse last year. Sigma Healthcare also operates pharmacy chains Amcal and Discount Drug Stores.
Under the MoU, Sigma will acquire a 75% interest, with the remaining 25% remained under the control of GreenLight.
“The parties intend to identify existing GreenLight pharmacies and, where appropriate, develop or relocate these into Chemist Warehouse stores,” said Sigma Healthcare in an announcement filed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
The first site under the JV will be in Hoxton Street, northeast of the city of London.
Holland & Barrett partners with weight loss drugs provider
UK-based retailer Holland & Barrett has partnered with Phlo, a provider of GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, to offer a holistic approach to weight management by signposting customers to clinically supervised support alongside its nutrition and wellness products.
Leila Thabet, Holland & Barrett’s wellness platform director, said the partnership represents a continuation of Holland & Barrett’s 150-year history as a health retailer and 15-year history of supporting weight management.
“Because we are a business rooted in the high street, we take what our customers tell us very seriously,” she told NutraIngredients.
The retailer emphasizes that it will not prescribe or recommend medical treatments but will inform customers of available options and provide nutritional advice, especially for those on GLP-1 drugs who may be at risk of deficiencies.
This initiative reflects Holland & Barrett’s evolution towards a comprehensive wellness ecosystem, aiming to support customers on various health journeys while adhering to regulatory guidelines.
The company also plans ongoing investment in its own-brand weight management products through 2026 and beyond.
NutraIngredients Europe Awards 2026 winners
Sixteen worthy winners of the NutraIngredients Europe Awards were announced during a VIP party in Barcelona on May 6.
“2026 stood out as a year of real breakthroughs for the nutraceutical industry,” said Ewa Hudson, Lumina Intelligence director of insights and chair of the judging panel. “From patented technologies to clinically robust science, this year’s winners introduced innovative, scalable, and cost‑effective nutritional solutions addressing key consumer needs.
“Judges were impressed by the strength of the clinical foundations, the genuine disruptive potential of the innovations, and clear evidence of commercial success. Above all, the winners demonstrated how thoughtful innovation can translate into meaningful health benefits for consumers worldwide.”
After a record number of entries, those who made the shortlist had to really shine in order to stand out from the crowd, said Nikki Hancocks, NutraIngredients Europe Editor.
“As always, our industry expert panel of judges were meticulous in their assessment of applications to ensure prizes were won by the best of the best,” she added. “A huge congratulations to our very worthy winners.”
To see the full list of winners, click HERE.
