My Business Life: Jan-Pieter Hallema, McCabes Pharmacy

Jan-Pieter Hallema, managing director of McCabes Pharmacy chain, shares his life and business lessons.

Originally from the Netherlands, Jan-Pieter Hallema began his career as a pharmacist before moving into retail and area management.

He has built extensive experience in the healthcare and retail sectors.

Following the acquisition by PHX and merger with Lloyd’s Pharmacy, McCabes Pharmacy has grown to become Ireland’s leading retail pharmacy network with 110 stores across the country.

Tell us about your background, what journey did you take to arrive at where you are?

I studied pharmacy in 1990 at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, where I’m originally from. I trained not only as a pharmacist but also in pharmacy production, which gave me a broader perspective on how medicines are made and how the industry operates.

Around that time, pharmacy chains were emerging, and since I had always been interested in business management, I joined Mediq, the first and largest pharmacy chain in the Netherlands. Later, I worked for a family-run pharmacy group, which, while smaller and less structured, gave me more hands-on experience and flexibility in decision-making.

In 2010, I helped turn around a loss-making pharmacy chain with a compounding factory – a specialised facility for customised medicines. A decade later, I joined PHOENIX Group Netherlands, working with BENU Pharmacy, and in 2023 I made the move to McCabes Pharmacy in Ireland – a new challenge I was excited to take on.

Each step in my journey taught me something different: the scale and processes of a large chain, the adaptability of a smaller family business, and the impact of innovation in patient care.

Why are you doing what you are doing? What need are you meeting? What’s your USP?

As managing director of McCabes Pharmacy, my mission is to make healthcare more accessible, efficient, and personal for every patient we serve.

With over 110 pharmacies and a thriving online store, we’re focused on being Ireland’s most convenient and trusted pharmacy partner.

Our goal is simple: to make managing your health effortless. Through innovations like Digiscript, which allows patients to order prescriptions, our online booking tool to book health screenings, and through automated messaging and improved digital workflows, we’re saving customers valuable time and streamlining their entire pharmacy experience.

In-store, we’ve invested heavily in new technology, systems, and tools that enhance accuracy, speed, and patient care.

Beyond prescriptions, we’re expanding our role in community health screening — helping to detect chronic conditions earlier and empower patients to take control of their wellbeing. Our services, such as weight management programmes, smoking cessation support, blood tests and lifestyle coaching, are all part of that vision.

What are your growth plans?

Our growth strategy is built on a strong, sustainable foundation: a high-quality pharmacy network that embraces innovation and digital transformation.

With that base in place, we’re now focused on strategic acquisitions of pharmacies that align with our values of patient-first care and operational excellence.

We also plan to further enhance our digital ecosystem — integrating data-driven insights, online engagement, and smarter logistics to make healthcare simpler for both patients and teams.

What are your key skills and qualities that set you apart?

I’m driven by a clear strategy: to continuously improve performance, culture, and patient experience through visionary yet practical leadership.

I believe in empowering people — putting the right talent in the right place, removing obstacles, and enabling them to deliver their best work.

Since joining McCabes Pharmacy, I’ve led major investments in new systems, digital tools, and operational processes that have transformed how we work.

From data-led decision-making and stock management to enhanced service delivery and internal communication, these changes have made us faster, more accurate, and more connected — benefiting both patients and staff.

What (or whom) has helped you most along the way? Who was your greatest mentor/inspiration?

I’d have to say my first boss at Mediq. He was always calm and thoughtful, asking the right questions to the right people and working alongside teams to find real solutions.

That approach – listening first, then solving – has shaped how I lead today.

What was the greatest piece of business advice you ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received is: “Always remove the biggest blocker to progress.”

Whether it’s an inefficient process, a communication gap, or a limiting mindset, identifying and eliminating the true obstacle creates space for innovation.

This principle keeps me focused and helps drive continuous improvement.

What circumstances/qualities/events can mark the difference between success or failure in life or business?

Successful leaders balance short-term execution with long-term vision.

It’s about delivering tangible results now, while always keeping sight of the bigger picture. If you can do both — and do them consistently — success follows.     

What was the most challenging aspect of either starting or growing the business?

When I first joined, we faced a tough decision: investing €600,000 in a new tablet press machine. It felt risky at the time, but we validated the process within just three months.

It was a great reminder that calculated risks, backed by data and confidence in your team, often pay off.

How did you navigate your business through the pandemic and what lessons did you learn?

It’s remarkable how quickly we adapted. Tools like Teams and Zoom became part of daily life almost overnight — changes that might otherwise have taken years to implement.

The pandemic taught me that agility and collaboration are our greatest strengths. It also reinforced that disruption will always come, but if you build a culture of adaptability, you can pivot and thrive.

How has digital transformation been a factor in your scaling journey and do you believe Irish firms are utilising digital technologies sufficiently?

Digital transformation has been central to our success.

Customers today want the same level of digital convenience from healthcare as they get in retail or banking.

By embracing digital tools early — from online prescription services to internal analytics — we’ve positioned McCabes at the forefront of Ireland’s pharmacy sector.

I believe Irish companies that fail to adopt digital solutions will find it increasingly difficult to compete in a fast-changing, customer-driven market.

If you were to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Honestly, not much – I’m proud of the journey and where we’re heading.

If anything, I’d invest even earlier and more boldly in digital technology.

Who inspires you in business today?  

Ireland itself inspires me. There’s a real “get up and go” attitude here – people move quickly, focus on solutions, and waste little time talking around problems.

I’m also inspired by my colleagues, who consistently bring creativity, commitment, and positivity to the table. Working with people like that is energising.

What advice/guidance do you give new hires and how do you nurture talent in your organisation?

Take your time. Every new role comes with a learning curve.

I encourage people to be curious, stay focused, and not be intimidated by the pace.

We also invest in continuous learning, mentoring, and clear career pathways so that our people can grow with the company.

What business books do you read or would recommend?

The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt –  it’s all about focus, problem-solving, and removing constraints that block progress.

It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to improve how they think and lead.

What technologies/tools do you use personally to keep you on track?

Aside from the essentials – my laptop and smartphone – I use training software to track cycling performance, including distance and elevation.

What social media platforms do you prefer and why?

I like to stay up to date via LinkedIn and a bit of Instagram, to keep a finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the digital sphere.

What are your thoughts on where technology overall is heading and how it will apply to business generally and your business particularly?

I see AI as the next major technological wave, similar to the arrival of personal computers in the 1980s.

Back then, people feared computers would “take over,” and we’re seeing the same narrative today with AI.

In reality, AI will amplify human capability, not replace it.

It will help make healthcare, finance, and planning more personalised and efficient.

The key is to engage with these tools rather than fear them – because those who adapt will lead the way.

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