Established in 1978, Dis-Chem started out as a small pharmacy in Mondeor, South of Johannesburg. 
Today the group is still privately owned and run by the original founders.

Dis-Chem has been rated as the country's best pharmacy chain by Professional Management Review, and has also been voted as Best Pharmacy, Best Medical Supply Store and Best Health Store in both The Star Your Choice and Pretoria News Readers Survey, as well as in the Leisure Options Readers Choice Awards. What makes this so special is that the readers voted for their favourite businesses or establishments, so we thank all our customers who voted for us.

Speaking from the Kya Sands head office and warehouse, Managing Director Ivan Saltzman says, "Our exponential growth can be attributed to strong branding, a good product range that meets our customers' pharmaceutical, health and beauty needs, low prices and valuable customer relationships. That is not enough though, in order to stay competitive in the future, we are continuing to pioneer by being the first to offer a loyalty programme (within in the pharmaceutical industry) - the Benefit Programme."

Continues Saltzman, "Dis-Chem was built on the ethos of old-fashioned family values. However, the concept of the 'trusted local pharmacist that everyone knows' is under pressure from the sheer volume of customer numbers and the increased pace of modern-day living. Dis-Chem has evolved to the next level of customer service by not only living by their motto, 'take care of the customer and the business will take care of us,' but by taking it a step further in extending that caring attitude to the community at large, which will be delivered through the Benefit Programme."

"The Benefit Programme allows customers to earn loyalty points on all items in store (except prescription medication due to Government regulations) which are then redeemable on a next purchase," says Saltzman. "Every time a customer swipes their membership card, a percentage of the transaction value will be donated on behalf of our customers to The Dis-Chem Foundation."

Saltzman concludes, "Dis-Chem stores have established themselves as a 'destination store' offering customers a myriad of competitively priced products for all their health and beauty needs. Our Benefits Programme is set to further enhance our offering to customers by giving them more value for money, while supporting our communities."