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IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Dis-Chem clarifies job security amidst declining retail staffing costs
JSE-listed pharmacy group Dis-Chem has insisted that it has not cut any jobs Image: Karen Sandison, Independent Newspapers JSE-listed pharmacy group Dis-Chem has insisted that it has not cut any jobs, despite its latest financial results showing a slight decline in retail staff costs. The group posted solid results for the year ending February 2025, with revenue rising 8% to R39.2 billion and headline earnings per share increasing by 20%. While the reduction in employee costs sparked questions about possible layoffs, the group told IOL these savings were not the result of job cuts. "There are no job reductions, no role consolidations and no reduced working hours – using existing staff across more stores," the group said. Dis-Chem explained that the cost containment measures under its Staffing Framework 1.0 focused on improving operational efficiency by adjusting staff ratios. This included increasing the number of post-basic qualified (PBQ) employees who handle administrative tasks, enabling pharmacists to focus on clinical duties. "The main drivers of cost containment of framework 1.0 were related to the following: Ratio change in our pharmacy category – this resulted in the addition of more resources to improve our dispensary service, driven by a ratio change between our pharmacists and our post-basic qualified resources (who are at a lower price point). "This allows the PBQs to process the administrative requirements of capturing the script and for pharmacists to practice at the top of their scope, checking the dispense and engaging with patients. "Redistribution of over-invested front shop staff – as a result of historical, decentralised decision–making–has led to many administrative resources being over-invested in certain stores. These resources (which were considered against a framework) were then moved into our new stores". Looking ahead, the group added that it plans to introduce Staffing Framework 2.0, which includes adding a junior management level in new stores to reduce management costs. "The introduction of a junior management level for our new stores, which reduces the management cost per store. Cost-saving mechanisms are not traditional job cuts. "Prioritisation implies that we are ensuring that all services and products that we make available in our ecosystem are reimagined and delivered to our employee base with 'extra value', allowing them to understand the products and services and be ambassadors for the change in our brand positioning". [email protected] IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Dis-Chem clarifies job security amidst declining retail staffing costs
JSE-listed pharmacy group Dis-Chem has insisted that it has not cut any jobs Image: Karen Sandison, Independent Newspapers JSE-listed pharmacy group Dis-Chem has insisted that it has not cut any jobs, despite its latest financial results showing a slight decline in retail staff costs. The group posted solid results for the year ending February 2025, with revenue rising 8% to R39.2 billion and headline earnings per share increasing by 20%. While the reduction in employee costs sparked questions about possible layoffs, the group told IOL these savings were not the result of job cuts. "There are no job reductions, no role consolidations and no reduced working hours – using existing staff across more stores," the group said. Dis-Chem explained that the cost containment measures under its Staffing Framework 1.0 focused on improving operational efficiency by adjusting staff ratios. This included increasing the number of post-basic qualified (PBQ) employees who handle administrative tasks, enabling pharmacists to focus on clinical duties. "The main drivers of cost containment of framework 1.0 were related to the following: Ratio change in our pharmacy category – this resulted in the addition of more resources to improve our dispensary service, driven by a ratio change between our pharmacists and our post-basic qualified resources (who are at a lower price point). "This allows the PBQs to process the administrative requirements of capturing the script and for pharmacists to practice at the top of their scope, checking the dispense and engaging with patients. "Redistribution of over-invested front shop staff – as a result of historical, decentralised decision–making–has led to many administrative resources being over-invested in certain stores. These resources (which were considered against a framework) were then moved into our new stores". Looking ahead, the group added that it plans to introduce Staffing Framework 2.0, which includes adding a junior management level in new stores to reduce management costs. "The introduction of a junior management level for our new stores, which reduces the management cost per store. Cost-saving mechanisms are not traditional job cuts. "Prioritisation implies that we are ensuring that all services and products that we make available in our ecosystem are reimagined and delivered to our employee base with 'extra value', allowing them to understand the products and services and be ambassadors for the change in our brand positioning". [email protected] IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
IOL News
30-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Dis-Chem Pharmacies reports strong annual earnings growth, but share price falls on the JSE
Dis-Chem directors said they continue to make progress on eight strategic areas aimed at delivering sustainable shareholder value. They said the biggest contributor to earnings growth in the year to February 28, 2025, was better cost management, particularly payroll cost. Image: Karen Sandison, Independent Newspapers Dis-chem Pharmacies' share price slumped 5.5% on Friday despite reporting good annual earnings growth and solid revenue growth for the first quarter to May 27. Group revenue grew by 8.6% for the three months of the new financial year compared with the same time last year, while retail revenue was up 7.8%, supported by the opening of 9 pharmacy stores, with comparable pharmacy store revenue growth at 4.6%, the group said in a statement Friday. It plans to open a further 39 stores this year. Revenue increased 8% to R39.2 billion in the 12 months to February 29, 2025, while headline earnings a share (HEPS) was up 20% to 137.5 cents. The final dividend was raised 23.8% to 27.85 cents, bringing the payout for the year 19.9% higher to 54.83 cents. Dis-Chem's share price traded at R33.91 on Friday, barely changed from R31.28 a year ago. In contrast, for comparison, competitor Clicks Group's share price at R389.62 was 32% higher over 12 months. Dis-Chem directors said they continue to make 'solid progress' on the eight strategic areas aimed at delivering sustainable shareholder value. They said the biggest contributor to earnings growth in the year was better cost management, particularly payroll cost. Excluding a once-off property gain associated with the acquisition of the Midrand warehouse, HEPS increased 12.3% to 128.7 cents a share. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Retail revenue grew by 5.9% to R33.6bn, with comparable pharmacy store revenue growth at 4.1%. Net store changes in the past year included opening 20 and closing 3 retail pharmacy stores, and the closure of a net nine baby stores, resulting in a footprint of 285 retail pharmacy stores and 45 retail baby stores. Wholesale revenue grew 9.9% to R30.1bn. Wholesale revenue to own retail stores, the biggest contributor, grew 7.4% while external revenue to independent pharmacies and The Local Choice (TLC) franchises grew by 22.1%. Independent pharmacy growth was 22.7% attributable to both new customers and increased support from the current base. A R650m loan taken out in the year was used to acquire the Midrand warehouse property, while a R502m facility taken out in the prior period funded the acquisition of the Longmeadow warehouse property. Wholesale expenses grew 11.1%, mainly due to the acquisition of the Longmeadow warehouse in the prior period. Excluding the additional costs incurred for the Longmeadow warehouse, wholesale expenses grew by 9%.
