Rossmann to launch online pharmacy in Germany

CEO Raoul Roßmann announced the project in an interview with Lebensmittelzeitung, stating clearly: “The online pharmacy will come”, Handelsblatt reports. The initiative follows dm’s entry into the market in December 2025, when the competitor introduced its own digital pharmacy platform. Mr. Roßmann openly thanked dm for the inspiration, admitting he would not have come up with the idea himself.

The new service will focus on selling non-prescription medicines and exclusive pharmacy products, mirroring dm’s approach. Beyond additional revenue, Rossmann expects the project to strengthen its mobile app, which already reaches around eleven million customers. Mr Roßmann emphasized that the app will serve as the central hub of the pharmacy offering, integrating seamlessly into the existing shopping experience.

Although no exact date for the launch has been set, Roßmann described the online pharmacy as the company’s defining project for 2026. The current priority is building the necessary IT infrastructure to ensure a smooth, customer-friendly experience. In preparation, Rossmann has already established a pharmacy in the Netherlands, enabling cross-border shipping. While AS Watson, a co-shareholder in Kruidvat is active through the brand in the OTC segment there, Roßmann stressed that the online pharmacy is an independent Rossmann initiative.

The strategic move targets a booming market: according to Datamed IQ, online and offline pharmacies in Germany generated more than €14 billion in sales in 2024. Alongside 16,800 physical pharmacies, numerous digital competitors are already active, including major international players such as Shop Apotheke and DocMorris. dm currently offers over 3,000 products ranging from medicines and supplements to vitamins and cosmetics. Rossmann’s entry signals intensifying competition in this lucrative sector, where digital convenience and app integration are becoming decisive factors.