Mopani Pharmacy and the Arrie Nel Pharmacy Group unite
The very first Mopani Pharmacy was opened on March 24, 1982 in the Pick n Pay Centre in Nelspruit.
Mopani Pharmacy recently announced that it is joining forces with the Arrie Nel Pharmacy Group.
“As your local neighbourhood pharmacy, we appreciate your continued support and we will continue to serve you as we have been doing since 1982. Same name, same us – let’s start our next chapter together,” said marketing manager Rita Erasmus.
She said if there is one thing that is guaranteed in life, it is that change is always around the corner. “It has been an exciting adventure for all of us at Mopani Pharmacy, turning these changes into bigger opportunities.”
“Our commitment to offering exceptional service to you, our community, will not change,” she said.
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Mopani’s history
Humble beginnings – 1982
Mopani’s story began with pharmacist-turned-CEO Rob Gibbs. He opened the very first Mopani Pharmacy on March 24, 1982 in the Pick n Pay Centre in Nelspruit. The quaint store had 100m² floorspace and five employees.
Growing up – 1987
The small store passed infancy and headed into childhood in the next five years, expanding its size to 350m². As photography and film development printing increased in popularity, Gibbs seized the opportunity to add a photo lab to the store. The staff count increased to 13.
Becoming a local household name – 1992
A decade in, the store expanded with another 500m². The photo lab was relocated to a separate store in a nearby mall. This allowed the pharmacy to expand its dispensary and add a primary health clinic with two consulting rooms and sisters to consult patients. A retail section was introduced as well, for the sales of fragrances and cosmetics. The Mopani family grew to a staff complement of 36.
The fully fledged adult – 2003
By Mopani’s 21st birthday, it was ready to expand once again. In July, Mopani made the great trek across the road to Crossing Shopping Centre, acquiring 1 700m² of space to set up shop.
With this new space, Mopani added a sports nutrition and upgraded vitamin retail section, as well as a business-to-business department (known as B2B). B2B offers companies and individuals the opportunity to buy in bulk, to stock their own shelves at more affordable pricing. The Mopani salon was added to offer massages, mani/pedis, facials and other services.
Have you got a Mopani Card? – 2008
In July the Mopani Card was introduced in line with other popular reward card programmes. Customers could now accumulate redeemable points and get access to exclusive savings!
Baby Club – 2009
The newly introduced Mopani Card paved the way for the launch of the Mopani Baby Club. The Baby Club offers support, information, encouragement and pampering to new parents with the added bonus of specialised gifts and goodies to sample.
If not outward, then onward! – 2010
Mopani opened a second store with over 1 000m² of floorspace at i’langa Mall in April.
Meet Spencer – 2011
In October an automated dispensary system from Germany, which is named Spencer, was added to the Crossing’s store team. Spencer accurately dispenses medicine, picking and pulling with robotic arms, to help our pharmacists serve our customers quickly and efficiently.
Gaining territory – 2012
Gibbs once again saw the opportunity to expand, and incorporated the Danie Malan Pharmacy into the Mopani Group. This led to its third store launch in White River Square – its first expansion outside Mbombela. The size of this White River store is approximately 560m².
Mopani hosted its first baby expo that year.
Never been easier to get your chronic medicine – 2014
In January Mopani launched its Chronic Medicine Programme – EasyPlan, a dispensing system developed to improve adherence and simplify complicated prescriptions with blister packs. It is a convenient, seven-day pack with individual packaging for every time of the day.
You can have each of your medications sorted, according to meal or bedtimes. If you add multivitamins or supplements, they will be packed in the slot where they will be most effective, in accordance with your existing medication. If you have something new added, it will be checked for contraindications.
Easy-peasy, blister pack squeezy!
Each item that a blister pack customer is using, is added onto the software to create the treatment plan, the items are packed, according to the treatment plan, manually into the blister packing material and then sealed by a heated sealing machine.
Mopani goes the extra mile to liaise with each customer’s doctor to ensure the medication is taken exactly the way it is prescribed. It is contracted to all medial aids and their rates.
Not big enough! – 2016
In April flagship store at Crossing expanded to 2 578m² and a total of 135 permanent employees!
The upgraded store boasts an impressive retail trading area of 1 603m², a coffee shop (Mopani Fresh) and two separate clinics; the Wellness Clinic and the Homegrown Babies Clinic, respectively. The store is also known as head office to the executives, marketing team, buyers, administrative staff, and the B2B department. Spencer also got an upgrade!
I said, not big enough! – 2017
Mopani’s i’langa store enjoyed its own revamp and expansion to 1 500m² and 53 staff members. It was time to get its very own world-class dispensing robot, she is named Molly.
Two baby additions to the family – 2018
Its Steiltes Centre Mopani store in the suburbs of Mbombela opened in May. It only has 330m² floorspace, but where it lacks in size, it makes up with the small-town community pharmacy feel that customers came to know and love during Mopani’s humble beginnings.
The second addition is Mopani Online, its online shop running from head office. It started as a small platform for customers to get their Mopani shopping and medications delivered locally, but soon turned into a self-sufficient department, serving customers, nationwide.
The sky is not our limit – 2021
In April, it launched its fifth store at Riverside Mall. It rivals the i’langa store in size and has an added exclusive, luxury fragrance and cosmetics boutique.
Today Mopani employs more than 300 employees.
