Type Private Industry Retail Founder Mariano Que Number of locations 900 Headquarters Quezon City | Traded as Mercury Drug Area served Philippines Founded 1945 Number of employees 11,000 | |
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Key people Vivian Que-Ascona (President) Products Drug and other Pharmaceutical products. Parent organization Mercury Group of Companies Inc Profiles | ||
Mercury Drug is a pharmacy chain in the Philippines.
Contents
In sickness in health mercury drug pampers
History
The company began in March 1, 1945 with a single drugstore owned by Mariano Que. He named it after Mercury, the messenger of the gods in Roman mythology, whose caduceus is sometimes used as a symbol of medicine. The store began cutting packaged, bulk items into single pieces and selling them individually; this practice is colloquially called tingí-tingì in Filipino.
Upon the invitation of Ayala Corporation, Mercury Drug opened its second branch in May 1963 at a developing commercial center in Makati now known as the Ayala Center.
In 1965, Mercury Drug established its landmark branch by Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila, which is notable for its large outdoor LED screen.
In 2001, then Trade secretary Mar Roxas described Mercury drug as a "near monopoly" and said it has 70 percent share of the domestic market.
Mercury Drug opened a new building, MDC100, in Eastwood City, Quezon City.