Store Apotheke Europe acquires First A

Together, the two companies want to prepare for the introduction of the e-prescription in Germany.

The stock market-oriented online pharmacy group Shop Apotheke is acquiring the Berlin-based start-up First A. Together, the two companies want to digitize the pharmacy market. As part of the takeover, Shop Apotheke is buying all shares in the drug delivery service. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the exact purchase price. Despite the acquisition, the founding team and management will continue to lead and manage First A.

"Now, together with Shop Apotheke Europe, we can not only leverage the expertise of a leading online pharmacy in Europe, but also accelerate our expansion across Europe," says co-founder Antonie Nissen. Together with Leif Löhde and Florian Swoboda, she founded Healthtech 2021. The start-up promises to deliver pharmacy-only drugs and drugstore products to customers' homes on order within less than 30 minutes. So far, the service is available in the cities of Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main and Munich.

Through the merger, First A aims to drive its pan-European expansion through Shop Apotheke's network. In addition, both companies want to use the merger to prepare for the introduction of e-prescription throughout Germany.