National Association of Chain Drug Stores

Founded in 1933 by six chain executives, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores worked to provide the chain drug industry with a unified voice necessary for growth and success. More than 70 years later, NACDS is still dedicated to its original vision, representing the nation's leading retail chain pharmacies and suppliers--today, a markedly different industry. Every day, NACDS works to enable and support its members to better meet the ever-changing needs of their patients and customers, while representing the practical, legislative and regulatory needs of community pharmacies across the nation. To continually meet these demands, our Association regularly launched new programs, created new organizations, and expanded our critical functions in communications, government affairs and member programs and services. Today, NACDS membership consists of over 170 chain community pharmacy companies. Collectively, chain community pharmacy comprises the largest component of pharmacy practice with about 118,000 pharmacists. Today, the chain community pharmacy industry is comprised of 22,029 traditional chain drug stores, 9, 287 supermarket pharmacies, and 7,662 mass merchant pharmacies. The NACDS membership base operates more than 39,000 retail community pharmacies with annual sales totaling over $750 billion, including $250 billion in sales for prescription medicines, over-the-counter (OTC) medications and health and beauty aids (HBA). Chain-operated community retail pharmacies fill over 70% of the more than 3.5 billion prescriptions dispensed annually in the United States. Additionally, NACDS membership includes nearly 1,000 suppliers of goods and services to chain community pharmacies. As we continue to grow and look toward the future, we are pleased that NACDS has expanded globally with international membership growing to include about 100 members from 30 countries. --- And, as we enjoy our 75th Anniversary, we look forward to even greater accomplishment and service to our members.