CFAO Healthcare expands in East Africa with full acquisition of Goodlife Pharmacy

KENYA – CFAO Healthcare, the pharmaceutical distribution arm of Toyota-owned CFAO Group, is set to fully acquire Goodlife Pharmacy, East Africa’s largest private pharmacy chain.

The company is purchasing the remaining 69.9% stake from LeapFrog Investments, after initially acquiring a 30.1% stake in 2022.

Goodlife Pharmacy, founded in 2014, operates 141 outlets across Kenya and Uganda, with 133 stores in Kenya and 8 in Uganda.

CFAO Healthcare, which already has a strong presence in 23 African countries, sees this acquisition as a key step in strengthening its regional pharmaceutical distribution network.

The company has formally notified the COMESA Competition Board of its intention to acquire Goodlife’s parent company, Africa Chemist & Beauty Care Inc. (ACBC), based in Mauritius.

ACBC owns Goodlife Pharmacy Limited in Kenya and Africa Chemist & Beauty Care Uganda Limited, which operates as Goodlife Pharmacy in Uganda.

CFAO Healthcare’s strategic focus

CFAO Healthcare, a major player in Africa’s pharmaceutical sector, operates under brands such as Eurapharma and Laborex.

The acquisition of Goodlife will allow CFAO to expand its retail footprint, ensuring better access to pharmaceuticals across East Africa.

At the same time, CFAO Group is restructuring its operations in Africa. The company is considering selling its Nigerian subsidiary, which distributes pharmaceutical and FMCG products.

Kenya’s pharmacy market attracts investment

The Kenyan pharmaceutical sector has seen increasing investment in recent years. In 2019, Ghana-based mPharma acquired Haltons Pharmacy, expanding its network under the Mutti brand.

Similarly, in 2023, Mauritius-based IBL, the majority owner of Naivas Supermarket, acquired a majority stake in Harley’s, a Kenyan pharmaceutical distributor.

DP World, which owns Imperial Logistics, also expanded its presence in Kenya by launching an FMCG distribution unit in October 2024.

Kenya’s pharmacy industry is growing rapidly, driven by retail expansion, partnerships with supermarkets and fuel retailers, and a rising focus on lifestyle health, consumer healthcare, and prescription medicines.

Goodlife Pharmacy has been a key player in this space, partnering with major brands like Naivas, Total, Rubis, and Vivo Energy to enhance accessibility.