HISTORY

New Clicks Holdings goes back 40 years to 1968 when entrepreneurial retailer Jack Goldin opened the first Clicks store. While Clicks was conceived as a drugstore, regulations governing pharmacy ownership meant that it operated as a drugstore without the drugs until legislation was changed in 2003, enabling the business to fulfil its founding vision. These milestones outline the highlights of the group over the past four decades.

1968 August Clicks founded by Jack Goldin

1968 August First Clicks store opens in St Georges Street, Cape Town

1971 June Clicks expands outside the Western Cape

1979 March Clicks Stores listed on the JSE with a market capitalisation of R10 million and 30 stores

1984 March Acquisition of Discom, comprising 11 stores, for R700 000

1988 July Jack Goldin sells control of the company to Score Food Group

1992 April Acquisition of Musica, the country’s leading music retail brand, for R1.2 million

1992 July Control of the group moves to The Premier Group Limited

1995 August ClubCard loyalty programme launched – first of its kind in Africa

1995 November The assets of the Clicks Group Limited are sold to a subsidiary of Malbak Limited, New Clicks Holdings Limited

1996 March New Clicks Holdings listed on the JSE with a market capitalisation of R880 million

1997 April Malbak unbundles and the company has no controlling shareholder for the first time

1998 July New Clicks expands to Australia with the acquisition of the 70-store Priceline chain for R176.5 million from Jack Goldin and subsequently acquires House and Price Attack and launches Priceline Pharmacy

2001 November The Body Shop opens its first store in Africa, at Cavendish in Cape Town, through a franchise agreement with The Body Shop International

2003 January Acquisition of wholesale distribution company, New United Pharmaceutical Distributors (UPD) at a cost of R281 million

2003 April Legislation passed enabling dispensaries to be introduced into Clicks stores

2004 January Australian operations sold to a consortium of private equity investors for A$107 million

2004 March First Clicks pharmacy opens in Sea Point, Cape Town

2006 July Clicks opens its 100th dispensary in Knysna and introduces a ClubCard credit card

2007 September Sale of Discom to Edcon for R316 million

2008 July The 150th Clicks Pharmacy opens at Hyde Park shopping centre, Johannesburg

2008 August Clicks celebrates its 40th birthday