With the consolidation of its new strategy introduced in 2016, Extrafarma ended the year with the opening of 100 new pharmacies in the north and northeast regions of Brazil and in São Paulo. Extrafarma is now present in 12 states and maintains its leadership in the states of Pará, Maranhão and Amapá.

The company’s business operations are based on a positioning which reinforces the aspects of reliability and proximity in the relationship with consumers. The new store model, more modern and welcoming (launched in the second half of 2015), meets the growing demand for greater assortment in the principal product categories and also excellence in customer service, focusing on a differentiated shopping experience.

Pursuing its accelerated expansion strategy, Extrafarma has rolled out its first stores in the states of Bahia and Sergipe, as well as increasing market coverage in the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Piauí, Pará, Maranhão and Pernambuco. In São Paulo where two pilot store operations had already been installed in the preceding year, in 2017, the company opened a further 22 units.

And to reinforce its competitive differential, Extrafarma has also invested in its human capital with actions for reinforcing leadership and training the instore teams. The company is Ultra’s largest business in employee numbers.

6,698

employees

100

stores opened in 2017

394

stores in the network

In 2017, Clube Extrafarma surpassed the 6.5 million mark of registered clients, a 29% increase on 2016. Products with discounts available for redeeming lower points scores under the loyalty program have been increased, facilitating access to benefits for a larger number of clients. For each R$ 1 in purchases, the client accumulates one point which can then be exchanged for products and discounts, Ipiranga’s Km of Advantages, or for points of another award scheme. Redemptions in 2017 rose 92% in one year.

Recife was the first city in the Northeast to welcome the CowParade in commemoration of the first anniversary of Extrafarma’s opening in the state capital. This international exhibition is made up of sculptures of cows decorated by local artists and distributed in public places around the city. At the end of the exhibition, an auction is held, and the value raised donated to local institutions chosen by Extrafarma.