Clicks
Clicks is a South African healthcare, pharmacy, personal-care and beauty retail chain operated by Clicks Group Limited.
Last updated October 26, 2026
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Overview
Clicks is a South African retail brand focused on healthcare, pharmacy, personal care, beauty, baby products and related general merchandise. It is the principal consumer-facing brand of Clicks Group Limited, a listed healthcare and retail group headquartered in Cape Town. The chain serves customers through a large network of stores across Southern Africa, with most of its outlets incorporating pharmacies. Its retail proposition combines prescription and over-the-counter medicines with toiletries, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, vitamins, wellness products, baby goods and selected household merchandise. The business began in Cape Town on 6 August 1968, when retailer Jack Goldin opened the first Clicks store on St George's Street. Its initial expansion beyond the Western Cape came in 1971 with a store in Durban. Over time, Clicks developed from a general health and beauty retailer into a broader healthcare platform. A significant structural change followed South African legislative reforms in 2003 that permitted corporate ownership of pharmacies. Clicks entered the pharmacy market in 2004 by opening its first pharmacy in Sea Point, Cape Town. The group also brought United Pharmaceutical Distributors, or UPD, into its operations in 2003, giving it a pharmaceutical distribution activity alongside its consumer retail network. Customer retention has been central to the brand's development. Clicks introduced ClubCard in 1995, describing it as the first loyalty programme of its kind in Africa. The programme rewards qualifying purchases with cash back, which can generally be redeemed on purchases in Clicks stores. Prescription medicines are excluded from cash-back earning. The programme has become one of the largest retail loyalty schemes in South Africa and has also been linked with partner promotions, including arrangements involving Engen service stations. The group reported that ClubCard had more than 12 million members around its thirtieth anniversary and that billions of rand had been returned to customers over the programme's history. Clicks has expanded its brand ecosystem through partnerships, acquisitions and adjacent service concepts. The group began operating The Body Shop in South Africa in 2001 under a franchise arrangement with The Body Shop International. Sorbet, a South African beauty salon business, became associated with the group after Clicks acquired a minority stake in 2013; Clicks later acquired all shares in Sorbet Holdings in 2023. GNC entered South Africa in 2014 through an exclusive partnership with Clicks. The group has also operated M-Kem pharmacies and developed Clicks baby stores, the latter launching in 2021. Digital retail became another part of the proposition in 2016, when Clicks introduced an online store carrying approximately 25,000 products, together with home delivery and in-store collection through Click and Collect. A mobile application added a digital ClubCard. The group also acquired a courier business in 2008 to support the delivery of medication to customers across South Africa. By April 2025, the wider group reported 944 Clicks stores, including 890 in South Africa, six Clicks baby stores, 55 The Body Shop stores, 11 Sorbet outlets, three retail distribution centres and five UPD distribution hubs. Approximately 780 Clicks stores included pharmacies. The group reported a 24% share of South Africa's retail pharmacy market and a 22.7% share of the country's personal-care market at that time. Its sales mix was led by beauty and personal care, followed by pharmacy, front-shop health and baby products, and general merchandise. Clicks therefore occupies a position between a traditional pharmacy, a health-and-beauty retailer and a convenience-oriented personal-care store, supported by private-label products, loyalty data, digital commerce and pharmaceutical distribution.
History
Clicks was established in Cape Town on 6 August 1968 by retailer Jack Goldin. The first shop opened on St George's Street, creating the foundation for a retail business centred on health, beauty and everyday personal-care needs. The company expanded beyond the Western Cape in 1971, when it opened a store on West Street in Durban. This move began the development of a national chain rather than a business limited to its original Cape Town market. A major customer-marketing milestone came in 1995 with the introduction of Clicks ClubCard. The programme was presented as the first loyalty programme of its kind in Africa and became an important mechanism for encouraging repeat purchases. ClubCard rewards qualifying transactions with cash back that can be redeemed in Clicks stores, although prescription medicines do not qualify for cash-back earning. Over the following decades, the programme developed into one of South Africa's largest retail loyalty schemes and was extended through selected partnerships, including promotions with Engen service stations. The group broadened its retail portfolio in 2001 by launching The Body Shop in South Africa under a franchise agreement with The Body Shop International. This added a recognised natural-beauty proposition to Clicks' existing health and personal-care offer. In 2003, Clicks Group was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and United Pharmaceutical Distributors became part of the group. UPD gave the business a pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution capability serving hospitals, clinics and other healthcare customers. South African legal changes in 2003 allowed corporate ownership of pharmacies. Clicks used the new framework to enter retail pharmacy, opening its first Clicks pharmacy in Sea Point, Cape Town, in 2004. Pharmacy services subsequently became a central part of the store model, with most Clicks outlets eventually incorporating a pharmacy. Some locations developed prescribing-pharmacy services that allow customers to consult a virtual doctor for a fee and, where appropriate, obtain prescription-based treatment through a pharmacist. In 2008, Clicks acquired a courier company to support medication delivery directly to customers across South Africa. The group changed its name from New Clicks Holdings to Clicks Group Limited in 2009, reflecting the development of a broader healthcare and retail portfolio. The group continued to expand into beauty services and specialist health retail. Sorbet Group was established in 2013, and Clicks acquired a 25% interest. In 2014, the American health and nutrition company GNC entered the South African market through an exclusive partnership with Clicks. Clicks subsequently acquired all shares in Sorbet Holdings Proprietary Limited in 2023. Digital services were added in 2016. Clicks launched an online store offering approximately 25,000 products, with home delivery and store collection through Click and Collect. A mobile application included a virtual ClubCard, linking digital shopping and loyalty activity. In 2021, the group introduced Clicks baby stores, giving baby-related products a dedicated retail format. The wider group now combines Clicks stores and pharmacies with pharmaceutical distribution, beauty services and partner or acquired brands. Its portfolio has included The Body Shop, Sorbet, GNC, M-Kem pharmacies and Clicks baby. By April 2025, the group reported 944 Clicks stores, including 890 in South Africa, six Clicks baby stores, 55 The Body Shop stores, 11 Sorbet outlets, three retail distribution centres and five UPD distribution hubs. Around 780 Clicks stores included pharmacies. The group operated across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, and reported substantial positions in South African retail pharmacy and personal care. In October 2025, it announced plans for further store and pharmacy openings during the 2026 financial year while retaining a medium-term target of 1,200 stores.
- 2025
Further store and pharmacy expansion announced
[1]The group announced plans for approximately 40 to 50 new stores and 40 to 50 new pharmacies in the 2026 financial year, while maintaining a medium-term target of 1,200 stores.
- 2023
Sorbet becomes wholly owned
[1]Clicks acquired all remaining shares in Sorbet Holdings Proprietary Limited.
- 2021
Clicks baby stores launch
[1]The group introduced dedicated Clicks baby stores for baby-related products.
- 2016
Online store and mobile ClubCard introduced
[1]Clicks launched online shopping, home delivery, Click and Collect, and a mobile application featuring a virtual ClubCard.
- 2014
GNC launches in South Africa through Clicks
[1]GNC entered the South African market through an exclusive partnership with Clicks.
- 2013
Minority investment in Sorbet
[1]Clicks acquired a 25% interest in Sorbet Group, establishing a connection with the South African beauty-salon business.
- 2009
New Clicks Holdings becomes Clicks Group Limited
[1]The group adopted the Clicks Group Limited name as its portfolio developed beyond the original retail chain.
- 2008
Courier capability acquired
[1]Clicks acquired a courier company to support direct medication delivery to customers across South Africa.
- 2004
First Clicks pharmacy opens
[1]Following legislative changes permitting corporate pharmacy ownership, Clicks opened its first pharmacy in Sea Point, Cape Town.
- 2003
JSE listing and UPD integration
[1]The company was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and United Pharmaceutical Distributors became part of the group.
Products and positioning
A broad, accessible health, pharmacy, personal-care and beauty retailer combining everyday retail convenience with pharmacy services, loyalty rewards, private-label merchandise and digital fulfilment.
Pharmacy services · 2004
Clicks pharmacies
Pharmacy counters located in most Clicks stores provide prescription dispensing, over-the-counter medicines, health advice and selected clinical services. Certain locations operate prescribing-pharmacy models in which customers can consult a virtual general practitioner and, where a prescription is issued, have treatment dispensed by a pharmacist.
Loyalty programme · 1995
Clicks ClubCard
ClubCard is Clicks' customer loyalty programme. Members earn cash back on qualifying purchases and can use accumulated rewards on purchases in Clicks stores. Prescription medicines do not earn cash back. The programme is available through physical and digital membership formats and has been supported by selected partner promotions.
Digital retail · 2016
Clicks online store
The Clicks online store extends the chain's health, beauty, personal-care, baby and general-merchandise range to digital customers. Its fulfilment options include home delivery and Click and Collect, allowing customers to order online and collect from a store.
Baby retail · 2021
Clicks baby
Clicks baby stores are dedicated formats focused on baby-related products and essentials. They complement the baby category sold in regular Clicks outlets and form part of the group's broader front-shop health and baby offering.
Beauty retail · 2001
The Body Shop South Africa
The Body Shop operates in the South African market through the Clicks group under a franchise arrangement with The Body Shop International. Its range centres on natural-beauty positioning, skincare, body care, haircare and related cosmetics.
Beauty services · 2013
Sorbet
Sorbet is a South African beauty-salon business offering services such as hair, nail and beauty treatments. Clicks first acquired a minority interest in 2013 and acquired all shares in Sorbet Holdings Proprietary Limited in 2023.
Pharmaceutical distribution · 2003
United Pharmaceutical Distributors
United Pharmaceutical Distributors, commonly known as UPD, is the group's pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution operation. It serves healthcare channels including hospitals and clinics and gives Clicks a supply-chain role in addition to its consumer retail activities.
Pharmacy retail
M-Kem
M-Kem is a pharmacy format associated with Clicks Group. The brand is known for pharmacy-led retail and includes 24-hour pharmacy operations among its market propositions.
Controversies
2020
Unilever South Africa responds to backlash over advertising images
Unilever South Africa said the images it supplied for the Clicks website were racist and apologized. It said it was investigating what happened, reviewing marketing campaigns and images, and taking steps to strengthen diversity and inclusion in advertising and training. It also said it had asked retailers to remove TRESemmé from shelves for 10 days, as agreed with the EFF.
Brand decisions
2025
Planned network expansionStrategyBackground
The group continued to target growth in its store and pharmacy network across Southern Africa.
Action taken
Clicks announced plans to add approximately 40 to 50 stores and 40 to 50 pharmacies in the 2026 financial year, with a longer-term target of 1,200 stores.
Aftermath
The announcement reaffirmed a physical-network expansion strategy alongside the group's digital and distribution capabilities.
2023
Full acquisition of SorbetM&ABackground
Clicks had held a 25% interest in Sorbet since 2013 and had an established connection with the South African beauty-services market.
Action taken
Clicks acquired all shares in Sorbet Holdings Proprietary Limited.
Aftermath
Sorbet became a wholly owned part of the group's beauty-services portfolio.
2016
Launch of integrated digital retail servicesProduct launchBackground
Customers were increasingly using digital channels for product discovery, ordering and loyalty participation.
Action taken
Clicks launched an online store, home delivery, Click and Collect, and a mobile application with a virtual ClubCard.
Aftermath
The brand added digital purchasing and fulfilment to its store-based health and beauty model.
2008
Acquisition of courier capabilityStrategyBackground
Medication delivery created a way for the group to serve customers beyond physical store visits.
Action taken
Clicks acquired a courier company to deliver medication directly to customers across South Africa.
Aftermath
The acquisition supported the group's healthcare fulfilment and delivery activities.
2004
Entry into corporate retail pharmacyStrategyBackground
Changes to South African legislation in 2003 permitted corporate ownership of pharmacies, creating an opportunity for established retail chains to enter pharmacy services.
Action taken
Clicks opened its first pharmacy in Sea Point, Cape Town, and subsequently incorporated pharmacies into most of its store network.
Aftermath
Pharmacy became a core component of the Clicks proposition and a major part of the wider group's healthcare positioning.
Recent events
- 2025
Clicks announces further store and pharmacy expansion plans[1]
Other
Clicks announced plans to open approximately 40 to 50 additional stores and 40 to 50 additional pharmacies in the 2026 financial year. The group also reiterated a medium-term objective of reaching 1,200 stores.
- 2025
ClubCard reaches more than 12 million members[1]
Other
At the reported thirtieth anniversary of ClubCard, the loyalty programme had reached approximately 12.6 million members and had returned about R7.5 billion to customers over its history.
- 2024
Clicks reports 2024 ClubCard cash-back payments[1]
Other
The ClubCard programme paid approximately R780 million in cash back to Clicks customers during 2024, according to the cited reference material.
Sources4 sources
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