Drugstore operator Schlecker has found a buyer for its stores in Austria and markets affiliated to the Austrian business. Private equity company Tap 09 is to acquire 1,350 drugstores in Austria, Italy, Poland, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Tap 09 intends to convert the shops to a neighbourhood store concept called ‘daily’. Sale of groceries will account for only 8% of turnover of these stores. Drugstore items will still be part of the new offering, alongside magazines and newspapers. The company intends to operate 1,980 ‘daily’ stores by 2016.