Chempro Chemists

Is Chempro Chemists owned by another company?
Yes, Chempro Chemists is a subsidiary of EVOLOR Group Holdings Pty Ltd, a private Australian company registered in August 2023. EVOLOR acquired Chempro in October 2023. Steven Probert, the founder of Chempro, continues to serve as CEO following the acquisition.

Is Chempro Chemists publicly traded?
No, Chempro Chemists is not publicly traded. The company is privately owned through EVOLOR Group Holdings Pty Ltd. The core operating entity is CHEMPRO (QLD) PTY LTD (ABN 97 104 469 178), an Australian private company.

When was Chempro Chemists founded?
Chempro Chemists was founded in 2003 by Steven Probert. The company was formally registered as CHEMPRO (QLD) PTY LTD on 1 May 2003, with the business name "CHEMPRO CHEMIST" registered on 11 August 2005. The company began as a small pharmacy banner group on the Gold Coast and has since expanded to 167 stores.

Who founded Chempro Chemists?
Chempro Chemists was founded by Steven Probert, a pharmacist who established the company on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Probert continues to serve as CEO, maintaining operational leadership and strategic direction following the EVOLOR acquisition.

How many Chempro Chemists stores are there?
As of 2025, Chempro Chemists operates 167 stores across South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales. The company celebrated its 100th store opening at Loganholme Village and has since expanded to over 167 locations, making it one of the fastest growing pharmacy groups in Australia.

What brands does Chempro Chemists own?
Chempro operates three brands: Chempro Chemists (the flagship retail pharmacy banner group with 167 stores), Chemist Outlet (a complementary discount pharmacy banner brand), and Pharmacy Direct (Australia's first online pharmacy, founded in 1996, offering over 17,000 health and wellness products online).

What is Pharmacy Direct?
Pharmacy Direct is Australia's first online pharmacy, founded in 1996. It is owned and operated by Chempro and offers over 17,000 health and wellness products through its online platform at pharmacydirect.com.au. The service provides convenient access to medications and wellness products with competitive pricing, direct pharmacist access, and secure delivery across Australia.

What is the EVOLOR acquisition?
In October 2023, EVOLOR Group Holdings Pty Ltd, a private Australian company registered in August 2023, acquired Chempro Chemists. Following the acquisition, Steven Probert remained as CEO, ensuring continuity of leadership. The acquisition provided Chempro with additional capital and resources to support its continued expansion across Queensland and New South Wales.

Chempro Chemists was founded in 2003 by Steven Probert, a pharmacist who established the company on the Gold Coast in Queensland. The business was formally registered as CHEMPRO (QLD) PTY LTD (ABN 97 104 469 178) on 1 May 2003, with the business name "CHEMPRO CHEMIST" registered on 11 August 2005.

The company began as a small pharmacy banner group on the Gold Coast, providing marketing and procurement support to independently owned pharmacies in the region. Under Steven Probert's leadership, Chempro expanded steadily throughout South East Queensland, building a reputation for competitive pricing, professional service, and community engagement.

A major milestone was reached with the opening of the 100th Chempro Chemists store at Loganholme Village, which Steven Probert described as a "major milestone" for the banner group. The company continued its rapid expansion, growing from 100 stores to over 150 locations, and by 2025, the network had reached 167 stores across South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales.

In October 2023, Chempro was acquired by EVOLOR Group Holdings Pty Ltd, a private Australian company registered in August 2023. The acquisition provided Chempro with additional capital and resources to support its continued expansion. Steven Probert remained as CEO, ensuring continuity of leadership and strategic direction.

In 2025, Chempro implemented a new Elcom digital experience platform intranet across its 167 store network, streamlining communications and ensuring consistent service quality across the growing network. The company also announced a partnership with the Gold Coast SUNS Australian Football League club, becoming the club's Official Chemist, with Steven Probert participating in a coin toss ceremony at a home game.

In early 2026, Chempro was named as one of four finalist bidders in the sale of Infinity Pharmacy Group, the largest franchisee of the Priceline pharmacy chain. This demonstrated the company's ambition to expand through strategic acquisitions and diversify its pharmacy portfolio.

Chempro Chemists has implemented initiatives focused on healthcare access, community engagement, and ethical pharmacy practices.

Healthcare accessibility is a core priority, with the company's vision to become industry leaders in providing healthcare solutions for everyday Australians. The banner group model enables independent pharmacists to compete with larger chains while maintaining personalised service and professional pharmacy standards.

Community engagement is demonstrated through partnerships such as the Gold Coast SUNS AFL club sponsorship, where Chempro serves as the Official Chemist. The company participates in brand activation events, community health initiatives, and local sporting partnerships to promote health and wellbeing in the communities it serves.

The company's investment in digital infrastructure, including the 2025 implementation of the Elcom intranet platform across 167 stores, demonstrates a commitment to operational efficiency and consistent service quality across its growing network.

Note: Chempro Chemists does not hold independently verifiable sustainability certifications such as B Corp, CDP disclosure, or SBTi targets as of the date of this article. The company's sustainability claims are based on its own reporting and corporate initiatives.

Chempro Chemists has received recognition for its growth and community engagement.

• Fastest Growing Pharmacy Group: Recognised as one of the fastest growing pharmacy groups in Australia, expanding from 100 stores to 167 stores in recent years
• 100th Store Milestone: Celebrated the opening of its 100th store at Loganholme Village, a major milestone for the banner group
• Gold Coast SUNS Partnership: Named Official Chemist of the Gold Coast SUNS AFL club, demonstrating community engagement and brand recognition on the Gold Coast
• Elcom Platform Implementation: Successfully implemented a new digital experience platform intranet across 167 stores, recognised by Elcom as a case study in streamlined communications
• Infinity Pharmacy Group Finalist Bidder: Named as one of four finalist bidders in the sale of Infinity Pharmacy Group, the largest Priceline franchisee, demonstrating the company's acquisition capacity and strategic ambition

Chempro Chemists operates under regulatory scrutiny related to pharmacy ownership laws, healthcare regulations, and competitive practices in the Australian pharmacy industry.

Pharmacy ownership regulations: Australian pharmacy ownership laws restrict who can own pharmacies, requiring qualified pharmacists to maintain ownership. Chempro's banner group model, where independently owned pharmacies trade under the Chempro brand, is designed to comply with these regulations. However, the EVOLOR acquisition and the company's rapid expansion have drawn attention regarding compliance with pharmacy ownership structures.

Competitive practices and market expansion: Chempro's rapid growth to 167 stores and its bid for Infinity Pharmacy Group (the largest Priceline franchisee) have drawn scrutiny regarding market concentration in the Queensland and Northern New South Wales pharmacy markets. The company's expansion strategy through acquisitions and new store openings could attract regulatory attention if it significantly alters competitive dynamics.

Regulatory compliance in healthcare: As a pharmacy retailer, Chempro must comply with extensive healthcare regulations including pharmaceutical dispensing rules, pharmacist registration requirements, and medication safety standards across federal and state jurisdictions in Australia.

Banner group model scrutiny: The banner group model, where independent pharmacies operate under a collective brand, has faced scrutiny regarding the balance between centralised marketing and procurement control and independent pharmacy ownership. Regulators monitor these arrangements to ensure compliance with pharmacy ownership laws.

Online pharmacy regulation: Pharmacy Direct, as an online pharmacy, must comply with additional regulations regarding the online sale of medicines, privacy of health information, and secure delivery of pharmaceutical products. The Therapeutic Goods Administration and state pharmacy authorities regulate online pharmacy operations in Australia.