New dynamics in the drugstore market: dm leads, Müller overtakes Rossmann

Step by step, dm has taken the lead

dm has been a dominant player in the domestic market for years: from 2021, it increasingly distanced itself from its competitors, and in 2023, its after-tax result jumped enormously, leaving Rossmann and Müller far behind. Although this result fell in 2024, the advantage remained. Meanwhile, Müller has caught up spectacularly: while in 2023 it only approached Rossmann, in 2024 it has already left it behind.

Revenue: dm still in the lead

In the revenue-based ranking, dm also proved to be the fastest growing player in 2024, although the rate of growth fell short of the dynamism of previous years. Rossmann and Müller both recorded smaller expansions, but dm still maintained its leading position. Müller’s outstanding results are particularly noteworthy, given that its store network is still much smaller than that of its competitors.

Wages: surprise from dm

In recent years, it has been generally believed that although dm employs the most employees, Rossmann provides the highest wages. This trend reversed in 2024: dm’s wage increase was so great that it was ahead of Rossmann by a hair based on the “average wage” indicator. It is important to emphasize that these figures include all employees – from store employees to senior managers – and are therefore only approximate.

Employment: dm’s dominance has continued to grow

dm now employs more than 3,200 employees, more than Rossmann and Müller combined. This also indicates that it has taken the lead not only in terms of revenue, but also in terms of operating size. Based on the employment data, it is clear that the company is not only strengthening its market position but also its social role.

Store network: dm and Rossmann neck and neck

The store networks of dm and Rossmann are currently very similar in size: the former operates 263 stores in Hungary, the latter 258. At the same time, Rossmann has also announced an ambitious expansion plan: with an investment of 390 million euros, it would open 253 new stores in several countries, including Hungary. This could reshuffle the balance of power in the long term.