The occupation of industrial parks by pharmaceutical chains has doubled in three years; here's why the segment requires specialized structures

Sources consulted by REsource attribute this post-pandemic surge to the concentration of companies operating in the sector. Previously, the segment was characterized by a fragmentation of networks, but now major market players like Grupo DPSP, owner of the Pacheco and Drogaria São Paulo brands, dominate product demand and presence in the country's major metropolitan areas.

Additionally, the rise of pharmaceutical e-commerce and the lack of storage space in stores have led to increased demand for larger storage spaces for product distribution.

Another important factor is the need for distribution centers to be located no more than 40 kilometers from metropolitan areas, with a high concentration of stores, to facilitate daily logistics operations.

Today, Grupo DPSP consolidates its inventory in six industrial warehouses totaling 94 thousand square meters, with two owned facilities in Greater São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. These two alone account for nearly 80% of the company's total demand. The other four, located in Bahia, Minas Gerais (expected to be completed by October this year), Espírito Santo, and Goiás, are rented.

When asked about possible expansion to new industrial properties, Adriano Rodrigo, manager director of logistics from Grupo DPSP confirmed that the company has a project team that conducts assessments based on the company's needs and demand. He anticipates a reevaluation due to increasing demand, indicating that the group may rent, acquire, or build new distribution centers in the coming years.

For the Rio de Janeiro market, however, this measure might not yet be necessary. According to Rodrigo, the Rio facility was designed to support up to 10 years of capacity, considering the increase in demand. In summary, the warehouse, located along the Presidente Dutra highway, can be expanded to meet the company's needs.

According to data monitored by Market Analytics, Grupo DPSP's main competitor, Raia Drogasil, occupies over 140,600 square meters in 11 industrial assets spread across seven states (São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, Ceará, Bahia, Paraná, and Rio de Janeiro), as well as the Distrito Federal. The company was contacted for comment but declined to participate in the report.

Rodrigo from Grupo DPSP noted that another critical factor in selecting a warehouse is the property’s specifications. In the company's occupied distribution centers, environments must be climate-controlled, leak-proof, and capable of specific segregation.

The São Paulo distribution center, for example, has 26,000 pallet positions, is automated (KNAPP), and features a 16,000-position OSR Shuttle.

"We handle products like medications, cosmetics, hygiene products, and even food. Therefore, segregation of products is necessary, particularly to separate deliveries, as required by health regulations," explains Rodrigo.

Controlled medications, for example, also require different storage from other products. In Grupo DPSP's own distribution centers, all these needs are considered from the initial property design. In rented properties, some adaptations were needed to meet the group's demands.

An important aspect of logistics in the pharmaceutical sector is constant monitoring by the supply chain team, which evaluates the demand for products in each region or neighborhood.

"Generally, many products are sent to all stores, especially the most common ones. But we constantly monitor demand for each region. For example, in more affluent areas, there is higher demand for dermocosmetics and higher-value products. This way, logistics is well-informed to ensure accurate deliveries," he says.