NACDS Membership

NACDS represents 154 traditional drug stores, supermarkets, and mass merchants with pharmacies – from regional chains with four stores to national companies. NACDS members also include more than 900 pharmacy and front-end suppliers, and over 70 international members from 24 countries.

Pharmacy Industry

Chains operate 37,000 pharmacies, and employ more than 2.5 million employees, including 118,000 full-time pharmacists. They fill more than 2.5 billion prescriptions yearly, over 72 percent of annual prescriptions in the United States.

The total economic impact of all retail stores with pharmacies (chain and independent) transcends their $815 billion in annual sales. Every $1 spent in these stores creates a ripple effect of $3.82 in other industries, for a total economic impact of $3.11 trillion, equal to 26 percent of GDP.

“Pharmacies. The face of neighborhood healthcare.”

NACDS is an effective advocate for pharmacy before all levels and branches of government, and with the media and healthcare policy opinion leaders. NACDS tells the story of pharmacy as the “face of neighborhood healthcare,” emphasizing its vital role in providing high-quality, accessible and cost-effective patient care.

“See the return of NACDS”

NACDS pledges to members that they will “see the return of NACDS.” NACDS commits that members’ investments in NACDS will be rewarded through effective member services, meetings and conferences; effective public policy advocacy; and effective external and internal communications.