Mercury Drug
| Private | |
| Industry | Retailing |
| Founded | Bambang Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila, Philippines (1945) |
| Founder | Mariano Que |
| Headquarters | Bagumbayan, Quezon City, Philippines |
Number of locations | 900 |
Area served | Philippines |
| Products | Drug store/Pharmacy |
| Revenue | PHP 42.98 billion (2003)[1] |
Number of employees | 11,000 |
| Parent | Mercury Group of Companies, Inc. |
| Subsidiaries | Tropical Hut, 10*Q |
| Website |
www |
Mercury Drug is the largest pharmacy chain in the Philippines.
History
The company began in March 1, 1945 with a single drugstore owned by Mariano Que. He named it after Mercury, the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology, whose caduceus is sometimes used as a symbol of medicine. The store began cutting packaged, bulk items into single pieces and selling them individually; this practise is colloquially called tingí-tingì in Filipino.
Upon the invitation of Ayala Corporation, Mercury Drug opened its second branch in May 1963 at a developing commercial center in Makati now known as the Ayala Center.
In 1965, Mercury Drug established its landmark branch by Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila, which is notable for its large outdoor LED screen.[2]
Mercury Drug opened a new building, MDC100, in Eastwood City, Quezon City.
Innovations
It introduced many "firsts" in the Philippine drugstore industry:
- 1948: Motorised delivery service
- 1952: 17-hour, all-week service
- 1963: Self-service drugstore
- 1965: 24-hours, 7 days a week service
- 1967: Computerised temperature control in its central warehouse
- 1969: Biological refrigerators to preserve vaccines and other medicines
- 1976: Expansion throughout Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
- 2011: First drive-through outlet in San Juan City (a repurposed former branch of Burger King)
References
- ↑ "Mercury Drug Corporation Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Mercury Drug Corporation". Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ↑ "Newsletter and Articles: Quiapo Plaza Miranda - A Sight To See". Mercury Drug. Retrieved January 1, 2012.