Pharmacy giant Schlecker is to make changes to its store portfolio this year in an effort to fend off its aggressively expanding rivals, DM and AS Watson-owned Rossmann.

The retailer plans to renovate up to 500 of its 9,000 traditional Schlecker outlets, steam ahead with rapid expansion of its larger XL format, and add another 30 stores to its upscale Ihr Platz chain, moving it more towards a small department store concept.