The Generics Pharmacy

The Generics Pharmacy, commonly known as TGP, is a Philippine drugstore chain operated by TGP Pharma Inc. Its retail proposition is centered on generic medicines, which it presents as lower-cost alternatives to branded pharmaceutical products. The chain also sells selected branded medicines, non-pharmaceutical products, and private-label medicines marketed under the TGP name. The business grew out of the Liuson family's long involvement in the Philippine pharmaceutical trade. Through Pacific Pharma, the family had been importing and wholesaling medicines since 1959. In 1983, Pacific Pharma shifted part of its business toward generic drugs, initially supplying government hospitals and other wholesale customers. Although the company was not originally a retail pharmacy, doctors associated with the Philippine General Hospital reportedly recommended the Liusons' products to patients seeking medicines at the company's Quezon Avenue headquarters in Quezon City during the early 2000s. This customer demand contributed to the opening of DLI Pharmacy in 2001. The outlet is credited as the first store associated with what later became The Generics Pharmacy. Customers traveled from areas including Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna and asked the company to establish stores closer to them. In response, DLI adopted a franchise-led expansion model in 2007. The business subsequently changed its trading identity to The Generics Pharmacy as it opened the concept to franchisees, using a name that more directly communicated its core offering. By 2014, the company had formally adopted TGP as its official name, with the shorter identity intended to improve brand recall while retaining the association with generic medicines. The franchise model became central to the chain's development, allowing it to expand through independently operated outlets rather than relying only on company-owned stores. A significant ownership change occurred in 2016, when Robinsons Retail acquired a 51 percent stake in TGP. The transaction made Robinsons Retail the majority owner and brought TGP into a retail portfolio that also included South Star Drug and Rose Pharmacy. The relationship positioned TGP within one of the Philippines' larger retail groups while preserving its distinct value-oriented pharmacy proposition. TGP's competitive identity is based on affordability, accessibility, and the distribution of medicines through a broad pharmacy network. Its generic-drug focus distinguishes it from drugstores whose propositions are more heavily associated with branded medicines, although TGP is not limited exclusively to generics. The brand's history reflects the movement of a pharmaceutical wholesaler into community retail, followed by rapid expansion through franchising and integration with a major Philippine retail group.

The Generics Pharmacy traces its origins to the Liuson family's pharmaceutical activities in the Philippines. The family entered the sector through Pacific Pharma, an importer and wholesaler established in 1959. Pacific Pharma initially operated primarily as a distributor of pharmaceutical products. In 1983, it shifted investment toward generic medicines, at first supplying government hospitals and other institutional customers through wholesale channels. The company later encountered evidence of consumer demand for direct access to its products. During the early 2000s, doctors connected with the Philippine General Hospital reportedly directed patients to the Liusons' headquarters on Quezon Avenue in Quezon City. Pacific Pharma was still principally a wholesaler, but these patient visits indicated that there was an opportunity to create a dedicated retail outlet for generic medicines. In 2001, DLI Pharmacy opened and is regarded as the first outlet in the chain's subsequent development. The store attracted customers from outside Quezon City, including people traveling from Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna. Requests from these customers for nearby branches encouraged the business to develop a scalable retail format. DLI adopted franchising in 2007. This decision enabled the company to open more outlets with the participation of franchise operators and allowed the business to reach communities beyond its original location. As the company prepared to expand through franchising, it adopted The Generics Pharmacy name, a brand identity that made its generic-medicine specialization explicit. The shorter TGP identity became the official name by 2014, reflecting management's view that it would be easier for customers to remember. The chain's retail assortment remained anchored in generic drugs, promoted as economical substitutes for branded equivalents. It also carried selected non-pharmaceutical products and branded pharmaceutical medicines whose patents had not expired. In addition, the company developed medicines marketed under the TGP name, giving the chain a private-label component alongside third-party generic and branded products. In 2016, Robinsons Retail acquired 51 percent of TGP. The majority investment connected the chain with a larger Philippine retail organization and with Robinsons Retail's other pharmacy businesses, notably South Star Drug and Rose Pharmacy. TGP nevertheless retained a differentiated market position based on generic medicines, affordability, and a franchise-supported community pharmacy presence. The brand's historical trajectory therefore consists of three linked stages: pharmaceutical importing and wholesaling through the Liuson family's established business, the creation of a direct-to-consumer pharmacy after patient demand became apparent, and nationwide-style retail expansion through franchising and majority ownership by Robinsons Retail. Its core identity remains the distribution of medicines at prices intended to be more accessible than those of comparable branded products.

• 2016

  Robinsons Retail takes majority ownership

  [1]The Generics Pharmacyen.wikipedia.org

  Robinsons Retail acquired a 51 percent stake in The Generics Pharmacy.

• 2014

  Official name changed to TGP

  [1]The Generics Pharmacyen.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted TGP as its official name to support stronger brand recall.

• 2007

  Franchising model introduced

  [1]The Generics Pharmacyen.wikipedia.org

  DLI adopted franchising, enabling the pharmacy concept to expand through franchise-operated outlets.

• 2001

  First DLI Pharmacy outlet opens

  [1]The Generics Pharmacyen.wikipedia.org

  DLI Pharmacy opened in Quezon City and was later recognized as the first outlet in the development of The Generics Pharmacy.

• 1983

  Pacific Pharma shifts toward generic medicines

  [1]The Generics Pharmacyen.wikipedia.org

  Pacific Pharma began focusing more heavily on generic drugs, initially serving government hospitals and other wholesale customers.

• 1959

  Liuson family enters pharmaceutical importing and wholesaling

  [1]The Generics Pharmacyen.wikipedia.org

  The Liuson family became involved in the Philippine pharmaceutical industry through Pacific Pharma.

An accessible, value-oriented Philippine pharmacy chain specializing in generic medicines and offering lower-cost alternatives to branded drugs.

• Pharmaceuticals

  Generic prescription medicines

  The chain's principal category consists of generic prescription medicines. These products are positioned as lower-cost alternatives to branded medicines and form the foundation of TGP's affordability-oriented retail proposition.

• Pharmaceuticals

  Over-the-counter medicines

  TGP pharmacies sell over-the-counter medicines alongside prescription products, supporting routine community-pharmacy needs and broadening the assortment beyond medicines dispensed against prescriptions.

• Private-label pharmaceuticals

  TGP private-label medicines

  The company offers generic products under the TGP name. These private-label medicines extend the brand beyond its role as a retailer and reinforce its association with affordable generic treatment options.

• Pharmaceuticals

  Branded pharmaceutical products

  Although generic medicines are central to the business, TGP also sells selected branded pharmaceutical products, including medicines with unexpired patents.

• Health and wellness retail

  Non-pharmaceutical health products

  TGP's assortment includes non-pharmaceutical branded products, allowing its outlets to serve broader everyday health and personal-care shopping needs.

• 2016

  Robinsons Retail acquires a majority stakeM&A

  Background

  TGP had developed as a generic-focused pharmacy chain supported by franchising, while Robinsons Retail operated other pharmacy businesses in the Philippines.

  Action taken

  Robinsons Retail acquired 51 percent of TGP, giving it majority ownership.

  Aftermath

  TGP became part of Robinsons Retail's pharmacy portfolio alongside South Star Drug and Rose Pharmacy.

  Ownership stake acquired. 51 percent (2016)

  Source

• 2014

  Rebranding under the TGP nameStrategy

  Background

  The company sought a shorter identity that would improve customer recognition while preserving its association with generic medicines.

  Action taken

  The official corporate or trading identity was changed to TGP, while The Generics Pharmacy remained the established public-facing name.

  Aftermath

  The TGP abbreviation became part of the chain's continuing brand identity.

  Source

• 2007

  Adoption of a franchise-led expansion modelStrategy

  Background

  Customers from outside Quezon City asked the company to open pharmacies in their areas after the first DLI Pharmacy outlet began attracting regional demand.

  Action taken

  DLI introduced franchising and subsequently used The Generics Pharmacy identity for the expanding retail concept.

  Aftermath

  The franchise model enabled the chain to add outlets beyond its original location and became a central part of its retail growth strategy.

  Source

1. 1The Generics Pharmacyen.wikipedia.org