1001pharmacies

1001Pharmacies operated as an online marketplace for health, beauty, and wellness products, connecting consumers with a network of physical pharmacies across France. The company was founded in 2012 by Cédric O'Neill, a pharmacist with a Master's in Entrepreneurship, and Sabine Safi, who was completing her studies in management and e-business. The idea originated with O'Neill and was developed after the two met at a Startup Weekend in Toulouse; their complementary skills formed the foundation of the venture. Their goal was to establish a leading position in the online pharmacy market by collaborating directly with brick-and-mortar establishments.

The platform launched in late 2012, initially partnering with about a dozen pharmacies to sell parapharmacy items. The business model was twofold: it charged partner pharmacies a service fee, reported as a 10-12% commission on sales, and also generated revenue by selling advertising space to laboratories wanting to reach its customer base. This structure provided independent pharmacies with a ready-made technical solution and the marketing power of a unified platform, which they could not achieve alone. The company's primary target demographic was women aged 25-40. The platform offered a wide catalog of products, including cosmetics, medical equipment, veterinary supplies, and organic products, which was a key factor in its growth. By providing products sourced directly from identified French pharmacists, the company aimed to offer a reliable alternative to other online vendors and combat the issue of counterfeit products.

1001Pharmacies demonstrated rapid growth, with sales increasing from approximately €1 million in 2013 to a projected €22 million by the end of 2015. This expansion was fueled by several funding rounds, including an initial €100K and a subsequent €8 million raised from investors like Newfund, CM-CIC Capital Privé, and notable business angels such as Olivier Mathiot (PriceMinister) and Xavier Niel (via Kima Ventures). Over the years, the leadership structure evolved significantly. Sabine Safi departed in July 2016 due to diverging views on management style with O'Neill. Cédric O'Neill also left the company, with Julien Mazerolle taking over as president in April 2017. In February 2019, 1001Pharmacies' parent company, Enova Santé, was acquired by the Belgian group Pharmasimple in a deal valued at €8 million. Keywords: online pharmacy, parapharmacy, e-commerce marketplace, health products, beauty products, wellness products, Cédric O'Neill, Sabine Safi, French marketplace, cosmetics, veterinary supplies, medical equipment, pharmaceutical sales, digital health, Enova Santé, Pharmasimple, Olivier Mathiot, Kima Ventures, online retail