Assuming "Pepsi and Coke" pharmacies means big brand pharmacies and isn't about Pepsi and Coke running some pharmacy somewhere, there are often local pharmacies that are better than anything I can generically suggest to you. For instance, in Ottawa we have some local compounding pharmacies which aren't part of any franchise. But off the top of my head, a couple Canadian pharmacies that have decent coverage of Canada that aren't exactly huge:
Pharmasave
Pharmachoice
Bigger but also alright:
well.ca is a Canadian online store; better than Amazon
Costco has a pharmacy and reportedly are good about carrying Canadian products in Canada, though they are USA-owned and operated
Places to avoid:
Rexall/Guardian/IDA/RemedyRx; owned by McKesson Corporation, a USA conglomerate
Walmart
I've left Shoppers Drug Mart (aka Pharmaprix) off the list since I won't recommend Weston-owned places, but they are technically Canadian so they're better than some but certainly not "alright".
Huh I didn't even know! Gonna have to edit Wikipedia now...
Though the caveat with private companies is you never know who really owns them. Tim Hortons is the poster child there -- officially owned by a holding company headquartered in Toronto, a Brazillian investment firm has a 32% stake in them. Birch Hill does not even disclose that info.
Rexall and Well are owned by the same company. Rexall is on Well's website, and Rexall expanded their offerings to include products from Well that they didn't previously have. Also your can pick up Well orders at Rexall stores, and they share loyalty rewards. I certainly prefer them over Amazon and Shoppers Drug Mart where the same or comparable items are available. I still go to a local, independent pharmacy for meds, though.
Lawtons is owned by Sobeys, so a little bit better than Shoppers Drug Mart but still not great.
Medicine Shoppe seems like a chain roughly on-par with Pharmasave & -choice (though not quite as widespread).
The Ford's Pharmacy in Moncton seems to be independent, so that gets a big recommend from me. If that's not the one you're referring to, I've got no idea which one you mean.
Are you looking for medication or the things you buy from drug stores because for some reason that's where we often go for makeup and shampoo and gift cards.
8 Comments
NGram@piefed.ca · 5 pts · 20d
Assuming "Pepsi and Coke" pharmacies means big brand pharmacies and isn't about Pepsi and Coke running some pharmacy somewhere, there are often local pharmacies that are better than anything I can generically suggest to you. For instance, in Ottawa we have some local compounding pharmacies which aren't part of any franchise. But off the top of my head, a couple Canadian pharmacies that have decent coverage of Canada that aren't exactly huge:
Bigger but also alright:
Places to avoid:
I've left Shoppers Drug Mart (aka Pharmaprix) off the list since I won't recommend Weston-owned places, but they are technically Canadian so they're better than some but certainly not "alright".
bravemonkey@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 20d
Rexall was sold in 2024 to ‘Birch Hill Equity’, a Canadian private equity firm, if that makes it any better.
NGram@piefed.ca · 2 pts · 20d
Huh I didn't even know! Gonna have to edit Wikipedia now...
Though the caveat with private companies is you never know who really owns them. Tim Hortons is the poster child there -- officially owned by a holding company headquartered in Toronto, a Brazillian investment firm has a 32% stake in them. Birch Hill does not even disclose that info.
Akuchimoya@startrek.website · 1 pts · 20d
Rexall and Well are owned by the same company. Rexall is on Well's website, and Rexall expanded their offerings to include products from Well that they didn't previously have. Also your can pick up Well orders at Rexall stores, and they share loyalty rewards. I certainly prefer them over Amazon and Shoppers Drug Mart where the same or comparable items are available. I still go to a local, independent pharmacy for meds, though.
dudesss@piefed.ca · 2 pts · 20d
Excellent, thank you kindly for your help.
How well does Lawtons, Medicine Shoppe, or Fords Pharmacy fit in this list?
NGram@piefed.ca · 3 pts · 20d
No problem!
Lawtons is owned by Sobeys, so a little bit better than Shoppers Drug Mart but still not great.
Medicine Shoppe seems like a chain roughly on-par with Pharmasave & -choice (though not quite as widespread).
The Ford's Pharmacy in Moncton seems to be independent, so that gets a big recommend from me. If that's not the one you're referring to, I've got no idea which one you mean.
dudesss@piefed.ca · 1 pts · 20d
That is the one. Thank you!
castle88@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 20d
Are you looking for medication or the things you buy from drug stores because for some reason that's where we often go for makeup and shampoo and gift cards.
If the former, check out https://www.guardian-ida-remedysrx.ca/ - I feel they don't have as much of the latter.