Southstar Drug
A Philippine chain of community drugstores and health-product retailers.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Southstar Drug is a Philippine drugstore chain with roots in Naga, Camarines Sur. It began in 1937 as a small retail business selling Chinese herbal medicines and is described as the oldest continuously operating drugstore in the Philippines. The business was initially known as Southern Drug and later operated under the name New South Star Drug before adopting the Southstar Drug identity used today. The company developed from a Southern Luzon retailer into a broader Philippine pharmacy network. Its assortment centers on medicines and other health-related goods, with stores intended to serve both urban customers and communities in areas where access to pharmacy services may be more limited. The chain's retail role combines the sale of prescription and non-prescription medicines with consumer health products and other general drugstore merchandise. Southstar's expansion proceeded in stages. It first increased its presence across Southern Luzon, then extended into additional Philippine regions. In 2010, it entered the Visayas through a branch in Samar, identified as the region's first Southstar Drug location. In 2011, the acquisition of the Manson Drug chain supported expansion into Northern Luzon. The business also reached islands and provinces including Mindoro, Masbate, and Catanduanes, with the latter associated with expansion through Virac. In 2012, Southstar Drug came under the ownership of Robinsons Retail, one of the Philippines' major retail groups. The transaction placed the pharmacy chain within a diversified retail portfolio and provided a larger corporate platform for continued branch development. Southstar Drug now operates as part of Robinsons Retail's Philippine retail businesses and has been reported as having more than 500 branches nationwide. It has also been identified among the country's top 1,000 corporations. The chain operates in a competitive Philippine pharmacy market that includes established domestic retailer Mercury Drug and Watsons, which entered the Philippine market in 2002. Southstar's long operating history, regional roots, expansion beyond Luzon, and focus on bringing medicines and health goods to remote communities are central elements of its brand identity.
History
Southstar Drug traces its origins to 1937, when it was established in Naga, Camarines Sur, as a small retailer of Chinese herbal medicines. Its early identity reflected its Southern Luzon location: the business was first called Southern Drug. It later used the name New South Star Drug from 1950 into the 1990s, before the Southstar Drug name became established. The company's historical importance comes from its longevity as a Philippine pharmacy business. It is described as the oldest operating drugstore in the Philippines, having remained active while the country's retail pharmacy sector developed and became more competitive. From its original base in Southern Luzon, Southstar gradually established additional stores in nearby and other parts of the region. Its operating model focused on supplying medicines and health-related goods through physical drugstores, including in communities that could be distant from major commercial centers. Southstar later pursued geographic expansion outside its original regional market. In 2010, it opened a branch in Samar, identified as its first location in the Visayas. In 2011, the acquisition of Manson Drug helped the chain extend its footprint into Northern Luzon. The company also expanded to Mindoro, Masbate, and Catanduanes, including a presence connected with Virac. These moves transformed Southstar from a primarily Southern Luzon business into a multi-region pharmacy network. A major corporate turning point occurred in 2012, when Robinsons Retail acquired ownership of Southstar Drug. The change connected the pharmacy chain to a large Philippine retail group with businesses in multiple retail categories. Under Robinsons Retail, Southstar continued its branch-based expansion and remained focused on medicines, health products, and other drugstore merchandise. Southstar operates in a market that includes Mercury Drug, a major Philippine pharmacy competitor, and Watsons, which entered the Philippine market in 2002. Its reported network of more than 500 branches and its inclusion among the Philippines' top 1,000 corporations indicate the scale reached by the business. Despite that scale, the brand's historical positioning remains closely tied to community access: it developed from a provincial drugstore and has continued expanding into regional and remote markets where retail access to medicines and health goods is important.
- 2012
Ownership transferred to Robinsons Retail
[1]Southstar Drug became owned by Robinsons Retail, linking it to a major Philippine retail group.
- 2011
Manson Drug acquisition supports Northern Luzon expansion
[1]The chain acquired Manson Drug, supporting its entry and expansion in Northern Luzon.
- 2010
First Visayas branch opens in Samar
[1]Southstar Drug expanded into the Visayas with a first branch in Samar.
- 1950
Name changes to New South Star Drug
[1]The company began using the New South Star Drug name, which it retained into the 1990s.
- 1937
Business established in Naga
[1]The business was established in Naga, Camarines Sur, as a retailer of Chinese herbal medicines.
Products and positioning
A long-established Philippine community pharmacy chain emphasizing medicines, health products, regional accessibility, and nationwide branch expansion.
Pharmacy
Prescription medicines
Southstar Drug's core retail role is the distribution of medicines requiring professional pharmacy handling and, where applicable, a prescription. These products support the chain's community-pharmacy function across its Philippine branch network.
Pharmacy
Over-the-counter medicines
The chain sells non-prescription medicines and common health remedies intended for routine consumer purchase. This category complements its prescription pharmacy business and makes its stores general health destinations for local communities.
Traditional medicine · 1937
Chinese herbal medicines
Chinese herbal medicines were part of Southstar Drug's original 1937 assortment and form an important historical link to the company's beginnings as a small drug retailer in Naga, Camarines Sur.
Health products
Health and wellness products
Southstar Drug also carries health-related consumer goods alongside medicines. The available reference material does not identify individual product brands or detailed category ranges, so this entry is limited to the broader health-product assortment.
Brand decisions
2012
Robinsons Retail ownershipM&ABackground
Southstar Drug had grown into a multi-region Philippine pharmacy chain and was positioned for integration with a larger retail organization.
Action taken
Robinsons Retail acquired ownership of Southstar Drug.
Aftermath
Southstar Drug became part of Robinsons Retail's diversified Philippine retail portfolio and continued its nationwide branch expansion.
2011
Acquisition of Manson DrugM&ABackground
Southstar Drug was expanding beyond its Southern Luzon origins and seeking a stronger presence in Northern Luzon.
Action taken
The company acquired the Manson Drug chain.
Aftermath
The acquisition supported Southstar Drug's expansion into Northern Luzon.
2010
Expansion into the VisayasStrategyBackground
Southstar Drug had historically developed from a Southern Luzon base and sought to extend its geographic reach.
Action taken
The company opened its first Visayas branch in Samar.
Aftermath
The move established a platform for the brand's presence outside Luzon.
Recent events
Southstar Drug agrees to acquire Rose Pharmacy[2]
Reported:
Southstar Drug, a subsidiary of Robinsons Retail Holdings, signed a share purchase agreement with a Dairy Farm International subsidiary to acquire 100% of Rose Pharmacy Incorporated.
Robinsons Retail signs agreement to acquire Rose Pharmacy[3]
Reported:
Robinsons Retail, through subsidiary South Star Drug, and Dairy Farm subsidiary Mulgrave Corp. signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100 percent of Rose Pharmacy. The source reports the agreement signing, not completion of the acquisition.
Sources3 sources
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