Over the last few years, Irish pharmacies have seen a major shift: customers increasingly expect convenience, speed and digital access, not just for food, but for health and wellness products too.
This has pushed two models into the spotlight: traditional pharmacy e-commerce websites (like your own online shop) vs. delivery apps (like Just Eat and Uber Eats).
But which one actually works better for pharmacies? And where should your pharmacy invest time and effort?
In this article, we’ll break down the strengths, limitations and real-world performance of both so you can decide what makes the most sense for your business.
Why this question matters now
Online purchasing of pharmacy essentials is growing rapidly.
Customers want:
- fast delivery (often within minutes or hours)
- simple ordering from apps they already use
- transparent availability
- trusted retailers
Delivery apps are already seeing strong traction. At LUDA Partners, we’ve seen:
- 70% month-on-month growth in pharmacy quick-commerce (Ireland & UK)
- A rise in repeat orders
- Pharmacies reporting “new revenue streams with zero extra workload”
Meanwhile, traditional e-commerce remains useful, but its role is very different.
Let’s compare both.
1. Visibility & customer reach
Delivery apps (Just Eat, Uber Eats)
✔ Massive built-in user base
✔ Pharmacies appear in app search results immediately
✔ Higher online visibility without marketing spend
Just Eat alone has 1.1 million customers in Ireland.
Uber Eats is #1 Food & Drink app in the App Store, increasingly used to order pharmacy essentials, with 90% population coverage across its operating regions.
Pharmacies listed on these platforms instantly gain exposure to customers who may never have visited their website or shop before.
➡️ Big advantage for delivery apps.
Traditional online stores
✔ Great for existing loyal customers
✔ You own the platform
✘ Requires substantial investment (money, time and human resources) for SEO, social media, ads, and ongoing maintenance.
✘ Limited organic reach if you don’t market it, and cannot promise immediate sales increases.
Your own website gives full control, but unless you invest heavily, it’s hard to match the reach of apps people already open every day.
➡️ Best for long-term brand building, but slower to generate sales.
2. Speed of delivery & convenience
Delivery apps
✔ Delivery typically under 30-45 minutes
✔ Real-time tracking
✔ Low-friction ordering
✔ Perfect for urgent needs (cold & flu, pain relief, baby items, personal care)
This is why customers love delivery apps: convenience wins.
➡️ Huge advantage for quick-commerce.
Traditional online stores
✔ Flexible delivery options
✔ You decide carriers and pricing
✘ Usually 24-48 hours delivery
✘ Less appealing for urgent needs
✘ Requires logistics setup
Traditional e-commerce works for planned purchases (vitamins, beauty, skincare), but not for urgent ones.
➡️ Good complement, but slow.
3. Operational effort required
Delivery apps (with LUDA Partners)
✔ LUDA manages catalogue, updates, optimisation & customer support
✔ No website building
✔ No digital marketing
✔ No logistics needed (couriers already provided)
✔ No disruptions to daily pharmacy workflow
✔ Just prepare the order when it arrives, nothing more
This is the main reason pharmacies love it:
They earn more without doing more.
➡️ Clear winner: almost zero workload.
Traditional online stores
✘ Need to update product listings
✘ Need to manage stock and pricing
✘ Need to run digital marketing
✘ Need customer support
✘ Need e-commerce tools, hosting, technical management
It’s more work, and only worth it if you commit resources.
➡️ Requires more effort and cost.
4. Costs & profitability
Delivery apps
✔ No fixed costs with LUDA Partners
✔ You only pay 10% + VAT per order to LUDA
✔ No additional fees charged by the delivery apps
✔ No exclusivity: you can sell on both Just Eat + Uber Eats (with more apps coming)
This creates a zero-risk model.
If you don’t sell, you pay nothing.
➡️ Low-risk, scalable revenue stream.
Traditional online stores
✔ Higher margins
✘ But hosting, advertising, SEO and logistics can become expensive
✘ Harder to scale without investment
A website can be profitable, but you must drive traffic, which isn’t free.
➡️ Good long-term asset, but higher setup and maintenance costs.
5. Customer behaviour (What people actually do)
This part is crucial.
Customers increasingly prefer:
- Ordering through apps they already know and use
- Rapid delivery (e.g. 30 minutes, not hours or days)
- Avoiding creating new accounts, passwords, payment details
- Convenience above everything else
Delivery apps have trained consumers to expect speed and simplicity.
This is why pharmacy quick-commerce is growing so fast.
➡️ Delivery apps align more with modern consumer habits.
6. What leading pharmacies are doing (Real examples)
Ireland
Meaghers Pharmacy Group recently became the first Irish pharmacy chain to join Just Eat through LUDA Partners.
Oonagh O’Hagan, Managing Director of Meaghers Pharmacy Group, highlights the benefits:
“We are delighted to be collaborating with Just Eat and LUDA Partners on an initiative that will enable our customers to enjoy rapid delivery of the products they need. Whether it’s fake tan for a night out, suncream for a rare Irish heatwave or essential healthcare items, you can order online with ease and enjoy fast, same-day delivery to your doorstep.”
This collaboration has already gained attention across Irish media, highlighting its significance for the future of pharmacy e-commerce. Coverage from outlets such as Pharmacy News Ireland, Business Eye Magazine, Irish Medical Times demonstrates the growing relevance of rapid-delivery pharmacy model.
United Kingdom
Pearl Chemist Group (South London & Surrey) joined Just Eat thanks to LUDA.
This news was covered by:
– Pharmacy Magazine
– Chemist & Druggist
– Pharmacy Biz
– The Pharmacist
– P3 Pharmacy and others.
For Pearl Chemist, the motivation behind the partnership is clear: accessibility.
“We are committed to serving our local communities and making healthcare more accessible”, said Mayank Patel, Superintendent Pharmacist for Pearl Chemist Group Ltd. “Partnering with Just Eat, with the technological expertise of LUDA Partners, allows us to bring essential pharmacy items directly to our customers’ doorsteps with the speed and convenience they need”.
This shows a clear trend: pharmacies are embracing delivery apps because it works.
So… Which one should your pharmacy choose?
If you want fast results: choose delivery apps.
✔ Instant visibility
✔ Minimal workload
✔ New customers
✔ Higher order frequency
✔ Designed for urgent needs
✔ No fixed cost and no risk
If you want long-term brand building: keep your online store.
✔ Great for planned purchases
✔ You own the customer relationship
✔ Strong for beauty & skincare
Best strategy? Do both, but start with delivery apps.
Why?
Because delivery apps generate revenue much faster and with almost no effort. Also, you don’t pay unless you sell.
Your website is still valuable, but it takes time, money and ongoing attention.
Delivery apps = immediate ROI.
Final verdict
| Feature | Delivery Apps | Traditional Online Store |
| Visibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Speed | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Set-up effort | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ |
| Cost efficiency | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Customer demand | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Scalability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Delivery apps win for pharmacies looking to grow quickly and efficiently.
Interested in selling on Just Eat or Uber Eats?
LUDA Partners connects your pharmacy to both platforms: no fixed costs, no hassle, no disruption to your workflow.