Beelivery expands to pharmacy goods after GBP £1 million boost
Beelivery is expanding its delivery services to include pharmacy goods in response to a surge in community pharmacy closures across England.
Data from NHS Business Services Authority shows that 248 pharmacies closed in 2024, a rate of nearly five per week. By January 2025, the total number of community pharmacies across England had decreased to 10,025, marking a net loss of 812 since the beginning of 2021.
Beelivery, which describes itself as the largest on-demand grocery delivery platform in the UK, is using its existing infrastructure to offer nationwide delivery of pharmacy products. The company's network comprises more than 25,000 registered independent drivers, enabling them to deliver to 94% of UK households.
The company has invested over GBP £1 million into its network since 2021 to support service expansion. This move enables the delivery of essential medicines and pharmacy goods to a broad swathe of the population, with a particular focus on areas most affected by recent closures.
Paul Gott, Chief Operating Officer at Beelivery, said: "Since launching in 2015, Beelivery has seen immense success with our grocery delivery service, and we're proud to now extend that same reliability to pharmacy deliveries. With pharmacy closures accelerating, it can be incredibly difficult for people, especially those living in rural areas or with limited travel options, to get the essentials they need."
Beelivery's on-demand service operates by allowing customers to select a local or national pharmacy through its website, add items to a virtual basket, and check out online. Once an order is confirmed, the platform assigns the nearest available driver who purchases and delivers the items, often within a few hours.
Gott added: "We pick up from anywhere, so whether you can't make it to Boots in time to pick up your prescription, or a meeting runs over and you miss your chance to get to Well Pharmacy, at Beelivery, we're committed to making life easier for people. By harnessing our network of over 25,000 drivers, we want to ensure vital medicines and products can be delivered quickly, reliably and safely to households across the UK."
The expansion of pharmacy deliveries comes at a time when many people face increased challenges accessing prescription medicines and other healthcare necessities, particularly in remote or underserved communities. The recent closures have left certain areas with reduced or no local pharmacy provision, heightening the demand for accessible alternatives.
Beelivery's model, which previously focused solely on groceries, is designed to bridge this gap by providing same-day delivery services that include both food and pharmacy products. The company has structured its service to cover the vast majority of the country. It aims to provide reliable support to those most affected by the decline in high street pharmacy numbers.
The role of delivery networks in maintaining access to healthcare products is being scrutinised more closely as pharmacy numbers decline. Beelivery's service is designed to address the practical barriers faced by individuals who may no longer be able to travel easily to a pharmacy, whether due to mobility issues, distance, or a lack of transportation.
The company's delivery process begins with the selection of a pharmacy online, where the customer adds desired items to their basket. The platform's technology matches the order to a nearby available driver, who then collects and delivers the products directly to the household.
Beelivery's expansion into pharmacy deliveries highlights a trend of private delivery platforms stepping in to fill gaps left by public and community services, as changes in the retail and healthcare landscape continue to affect local communities across the UK.
