Tata 1mg started as an online pharmacy and health platform. It is now opening physical pharmacies, which makes it a useful case study for any brand that sells health and wellness products in India.
What has been reported
- Store count: the company's CEO, Prashant Tandon, was quoted as saying it had almost 220 stores and expected to be closer to 500 by the end of calendar 2026, describing a pace of almost a store a day.
- Later reporting put the network at over 280 retail pharmacies, with a plan to reach roughly 500 outlets within 12 months using a cluster-based approach.
- Profitability: the company said all its core businesses turned EBITDA positive in December 2025 and stayed there through the fourth quarter of FY26.
- Beyond medicines: diagnostics across 60+ cities, and a D2C health products business that the company said had passed ₹200 crore in annual recurring revenue.
- Speed: instant medicine delivery through a partnership with BigBasket, in a small number of locations.
These are company statements and press reports, and store counts change quickly. Check current figures before quoting them.
Why an online-first health platform goes offline
Medicines and health products carry a high trust requirement. Many customers want to speak to a pharmacist, collect an urgent prescription or pay in person. Stores close that gap, and they work as local fulfilment points that can support faster delivery. The pattern matches what is happening more broadly: CBRE's data shows D2C brands taking a rising share of retail leasing, as we cover in D2C Brands Go Offline .
What it means for health and wellness brands
- More shelf and discovery routes. A platform with its own stores can place your product where shoppers meet a pharmacist or a counter, as well as on an app.
- A higher bar for claims. Customers who see products in a pharmacy expect them to be properly labelled and compliant.
- Channel consistency. Price, pack size and availability should match across your site, marketplaces and stores.
- Evidence of demand. Brands with clear online reviews, repeat buyers and clean data are easier for a retail partner to say yes to.
- Education matters. At the shelf, a shopper decides in seconds, so pack design and clear benefit statements carry more weight.
On claims, see what a published label study found about protein supplements in Protein Supplements Under the Microscope . Wellness brands that rely on education-led content are well placed here, because trust built online carries into stores. Why Education-Driven Content Works Best for Wellness Brands goes into the approach, and our social media and content marketing and strategic brand growth consulting services can help you plan it.
The takeaway
The 1mg story shows where health retail is heading: app, store and fast delivery working as one system. Brands that want to be part of it should get their claims, data and channel economics in order first.
Sources
Digital Health News, Tata 1mg announces major expansion with nearly 500 offline stores nationwide
India Med Today, Tata 1mg turns EBITDA positive, sets sights on bigger omnichannel play
