Chemist Warehouse POLITICAL

Target: Chemist Warehouse / CW Group Holdings Limited / Sigma Healthcare Limited

Evidence period: 2018–2026

Research date: 23 October 2026

Corporate Communications & Public Stance

Official conflict-related statements

No public evidence identified of an official Chemist Warehouse or Sigma Healthcare corporate declaration specifically supporting or opposing Israeli military operations in Gaza, Israeli settlement policies, Palestinian statehood, or the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Israeli commercial-policy engagement

In August 2022, Ynetnews reported that Chemist Warehouse co-founder and then-chairman Jack Gance was discussing a potential Israeli expansion with Israel’s Ministry of Economy, with an initial proposal involving one or two stores before possible wider expansion.¹

On 15 August 2022, Globes reported that Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry director-general Ron Malka had spoken with Gance about entering Israel’s pharmacy market and that the ministry was encouraging the proposed expansion through retail-import reforms.²

On 21 March 2023, Gance participated remotely in an Israeli Knesset Health Committee hearing about cosmetics and pharmacy regulations, where he discussed the obstacles facing Chemist Warehouse’s proposed entry into Israel.³

In that hearing, the Hebrew parliamentary transcript records Gance expressing his desire to enter Israel and, in substance, stating that he wanted to help Jewish consumers obtain products at lower prices.³

The parliamentary record also documents Gance’s objections to import-documentation requirements and a disagreement with an Israeli health official concerning the interpretation of those requirements.³

In August 2023, Ynet reported further comments by Gance criticising Israeli cosmetics regulation and suggesting that established commercial competitors could be obstructing the company’s proposed market entry.⁴

Comparative public posture

Sigma Healthcare’s post-merger sustainability communications discuss responsible business conduct, emissions, environmental management, workforce integration, ethical sourcing, and community health.⁵

Its published corporate history emphasises affordability, pharmacy services, retail development, and healthcare distribution in Australia and international markets.⁶

No public evidence identified establishing a directly comparable pair of official company statements addressing Ukraine or another armed conflict while adopting a different public position concerning Palestinian civilian harm.

Market framing

In a May 2023 YPO interview, Gance described international expansion primarily in terms of retail competition, affordability, supplier relationships, and demand for the Chemist Warehouse business model.⁷

The same interview reported that Israel and Indonesia were among countries whose governments had approached him about opening stores.⁷

Sigma’s current corporate history describes Chemist Warehouse’s international presence in New Zealand, Ireland, China, and Dubai, without identifying Israel as an operating market.⁶

Operations in Occupied or Contested Territories

Territorial presence

During 2022–2023, Chemist Warehouse was publicly considering entry into Israel, including discussions with government officials about import regulation and the commercial feasibility of opening stores.^{1, 2, 4}

The March 2023 parliamentary transcript records Gance referring to an unnamed partner associated with the proposed Israeli market-entry project.³

The transcript does not identify that partner or establish the geographical location of any prospective stores.³

Sigma’s published history identifies the combined group’s pharmacy operations across Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, China, and Dubai, without listing Israeli stores or operations in the occupied Palestinian territory.⁶

No public evidence identified of Chemist Warehouse, Sigma Healthcare, or their identified pharmacy brands directly operating stores, warehouses, franchise locations, or service facilities in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, or in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

No public evidence identified of a named Chemist Warehouse retailer, importer, distributor, or franchisee operating from a settlement location.

Legal and regulatory scrutiny

The proposed Israeli expansion was discussed during Israel’s 21 March 2023 parliamentary Health Committee proceedings concerning cosmetics regulation and import requirements.³

These proceedings concerned commercial regulation, import documentation, and retail-market competition.³

Separately, Sigma’s proposed acquisition of Chemist Warehouse underwent Australian competition review in 2024, with the parties subsequently offering court-enforceable undertakings addressing competition concerns.⁸

The merger was implemented in February 2025 following shareholder approval and completion of the regulatory process.^{8, 9}

No public evidence identified establishing that these Australian competition proceedings concerned Israel, Palestine, sanctions, settlement activities, or international humanitarian law.

No public evidence identified in the sources reviewed establishing an OHCHR settlement-database listing, settlement-related court judgment, or international regulatory sanction specifically against Chemist Warehouse, CW Group Holdings, or Sigma Healthcare.

Civil-society and boycott campaigns

No public evidence identified of a documented, organisation-led BDS campaign specifically naming Chemist Warehouse or Sigma Healthcare for participation in settlement activity, military procurement, or financing of Israeli state operations.

No public evidence identified of a formal company response to an Israel-Palestine-specific boycott campaign.

No public evidence identified of a Palestine-related institutional divestment decision explicitly targeting Chemist Warehouse or Sigma Healthcare.

Internal Governance, Content & Retail Policies

Employee relations and political expression

Following the February 2025 merger, Sigma described the integration of Chemist Warehouse and Sigma employees as a significant workforce-management priority.⁵

Its published governance materials identify corporate policies covering whistleblowing, ethics, diversity, disclosure, and risk management.¹⁰

No public evidence identified of Chemist Warehouse or Sigma Healthcare dismissing, disciplining, or otherwise sanctioning employees specifically for supporting Palestinian rights, displaying Palestinian symbols, or publicly criticising Israeli government policy.

No public evidence identified of company litigation or disciplinary proceedings against employees or unions concerning Gaza-related speech.

Platform and editorial policy

Sigma identifies Chemist Warehouse’s digital health services, online retail operations, and proprietary media platforms as part of the group’s commercial development.⁶

No public evidence identified of Gaza-related algorithmic suppression, discriminatory moderation, editorial restrictions, or political-content removal by a Chemist Warehouse-controlled digital platform.

No public evidence identified of a regulator or independent research institution finding viewpoint discrimination concerning Israel-Palestine content on a company platform.

Retail and supply-chain practices

Sigma’s sustainability disclosures describe ethical sourcing and responsible packaging as areas of corporate concern, including the integration of supply-chain practices after the 2025 merger.⁵

The group’s published governance documents include an Ethical Sourcing and Modern Slavery Policy and modern-slavery reporting materials.¹⁰

No public evidence identified of a verified Chemist Warehouse product originating from an Israeli settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory.

No public evidence identified of a regulatory finding that Chemist Warehouse mislabelled settlement-origin products as originating within Israel.

No public evidence identified of a corporate policy specifically governing Israeli settlement-origin products or differentiated labelling of Palestinian and Israeli products.

Brand Heritage & State Partnerships

Corporate origins and marketing

Sigma’s corporate history describes Chemist Warehouse as a pharmacy retail business developed by Jack and Sam Gance, with Mario Verrocchi joining the founders’ pharmacy business before the creation of My Chemist and Chemist Warehouse.⁶

The first My Chemist-branded pharmacy opened in 1997, and the Chemist Warehouse retail chain began operating in 2000.⁶

The company’s published history attributes its commercial development to pharmacy retailing, coordinated purchasing, discount pricing, and expansion into international consumer markets.⁶

No public evidence identified that Chemist Warehouse’s corporate branding claims military origins, Israeli defence-sector heritage, intelligence-service connections, or a state-security founding mission.

Israeli governmental engagement

On 15 August 2022, Globes reported that Israeli Ministry of Economy and Industry director-general Ron Malka had engaged with Jack Gance about attracting Chemist Warehouse into the Israeli market.²

In March 2023, Gance addressed an Israeli parliamentary committee concerning the company’s proposed expansion and pharmaceutical import barriers.³

The hearing record identifies Gance as Chemist Warehouse’s chairman and founder and records substantive exchanges with Israeli parliamentary and government representatives.³

These documented interactions concerned market entry and commercial regulation.^{3, 2}

No public evidence identified establishing an agreement for Chemist Warehouse to provide products or services to the Israeli military, intelligence agencies, or settlement authorities.

Australia-Israel institutional engagement

[pre-2020] On 22 November 2018, the Young Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce hosted a business masterclass featuring Jack Gance, identified as Chemist Warehouse’s co-founder and chairman.¹¹

[pre-2020] The organiser reported that the event was hosted at PwC and sponsored by Herbert Smith Freehills.¹¹

[pre-2020] The Chamber announced that 50% of event ticket proceeds would be allocated to a charity selected by Gance, who chose Save a Child’s Heart, an Israel-based international humanitarian medical charity.¹¹

[pre-2020] The same event archive reported that the Young Australia-Israel Chamber had donated more than $90,000 to various charitable causes since 2010; it did not identify that sum as the proceeds of Gance’s event.¹¹

[pre-2020] The archived event establishes Gance’s participation and beneficiary selection in 2018; a continuing relationship after that event is unknown.¹¹

No public evidence identified of a current Chemist Warehouse corporate board seat, formal executive office, or continuing sponsorship commitment within the Young Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

State cultural campaigns

No public evidence identified of Chemist Warehouse sponsoring a formal Israeli government public-diplomacy campaign, military commemoration, or settlement promotional event.

No public evidence identified of company-funded participation in a programme explicitly promoting Israeli sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory.

Lobbying, Advocacy, Financing & Logistics

Political and regulatory advocacy

The strongest documented Israel-related advocacy consists of Jack Gance’s participation in the Israeli Knesset Health Committee hearing on 21 March 2023.³

Gance described obstacles to Chemist Warehouse’s proposed market entry and argued that existing cosmetics-import requirements created commercial barriers.³

The parliamentary transcript records engagement with Israeli officials concerning possible regulatory reform and proposed commercial expansion.³

Gance also said that representatives of Israel’s Ministry of Economy in Sydney had encouraged him to consider entering the Israeli market.³

The August 2022 Globes report independently documents the Ministry of Economy and Industry’s engagement with Gance and its stated intention to encourage international retail competition.²

These documented activities concerned import policy, retail competition, and consumer pricing.^{2, 3}

No public evidence identified of Chemist Warehouse lobbying specifically against Palestinian statehood, Palestinian human-rights advocacy, sanctions on settlements, or legislation restricting settlement commerce.

No public evidence identified of corporate membership in AIPAC, Christians United for Israel, or an organisation whose documented role in this relationship involved lobbying against Palestinian rights.

Political-finance disclosures

The Australian Electoral Commission’s Transparency Register provides public information concerning relevant federal political-finance disclosures, including annual returns and disclosed receipts.¹²

The AEC also provides a public detailed-receipts register for political parties, significant third parties, and associated entities.¹³

Under the AEC’s published guidance, annual donor reporting obligations depend on the type, purpose, and value of relevant political donations.¹⁴

The Victorian Electoral Commission separately publishes rules governing political-donation disclosures and donor reporting.¹⁵

No public evidence identified in the records reviewed of a transaction specifically financing Israel-Palestine political advocacy by Chemist Warehouse, Sigma Healthcare, or their named controlling principals.

No public evidence identified of a verified corporate PAC payment, Israeli lobbying payment, or anti-BDS campaign contribution attributable to the target group.

Military and settlement financing

No public evidence identified of Chemist Warehouse, CW Group Holdings, or Sigma Healthcare making donations to the IDF, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Israeli reservist-support funds, military-welfare bodies, or organisations financing settlement development.

No public evidence identified of a company-sponsored fundraising event specifically benefiting Israeli military operations or settlement organisations.

No public evidence identified of a company-backed investment in an Israeli military or surveillance company undertaken to advance a geopolitical or military objective.

Humanitarian financing

[pre-2020] The Young Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 event record identifies Save a Child’s Heart as Jack Gance’s selected charitable beneficiary for an event at which the organiser committed 50% of ticket proceeds to the speaker’s nominated charity.¹¹

[pre-2020] The same record describes Save a Child’s Heart as an Israeli-based humanitarian organisation providing cardiac surgery and medical care to children from developing countries.¹¹

[pre-2020] The event record does not state the monetary value of the donation generated by that event or identify Chemist Warehouse as the organisation transferring the funds.¹¹

No public evidence identified establishing that the 2018 donation arrangement financed military activity or settlement construction.

No public evidence identified of a continuing post-2020 funding relationship between the company and Save a Child’s Heart.

Crisis asset mobilisation

No public evidence identified of Chemist Warehouse or Sigma Healthcare providing free medicines, transport, logistics facilities, commercial infrastructure, personnel, or financial resources specifically to support Israeli military operations following October 2023.

No public evidence identified of a reservist salary-support programme administered by Chemist Warehouse in Israel.

No public evidence identified of company resources being transferred to settlement-related emergency mobilisation programmes.

Conduct after July and November 2024

Sigma’s February 2025 merger announcement concerns healthcare retail, distribution infrastructure, commercial integration, and shareholder value.⁹

The company’s subsequent sustainability communications describe environmental reporting, workforce integration, responsible sourcing, and commercial operations.⁵

No public evidence identified establishing that the Israel-specific regulatory advocacy documented in 2022–2023 continued after 19 July 2024.

No public evidence identified establishing Israeli military, settlement, or geopolitical financial contributions by the target after November 2024.

Corporate Structure & Primary Mission

Formation and corporate purpose

Chemist Warehouse developed from the pharmacy business established by Jack and Sam Gance, with the Chemist Warehouse retail model formally introduced in 2000.⁶

Sigma Healthcare’s published history describes its core activities as pharmacy retail franchising, pharmaceutical wholesaling, distribution, and healthcare-related services.⁶

Its published governance materials state that the company’s corporate objective is to maximise shareholder returns within an acceptable risk-management framework.¹⁰

No public evidence identified of a foundational corporate mandate requiring Chemist Warehouse or Sigma Healthcare to advance Israeli military objectives, settlements, territorial expansion, or other state geopolitical programmes.

2025 merger and ownership

On 11 December 2023, Sigma Healthcare and CW Group Holdings Limited entered into an agreement under which Sigma would acquire the Chemist Warehouse group through a combination of shares and A$700 million cash consideration.⁸

The Australian competition regulator’s review began in March 2024, with the parties subsequently providing enforceable undertakings before the merger proceeded.⁸

Sigma implemented its acquisition of CW Group Holdings on 12 February 2025, making Chemist Warehouse a wholly owned subsidiary of the listed company.¹⁶

The merged entity began trading under the new structure on 13 February 2025.⁹

Contemporaneous January 2025 reporting stated that former Chemist Warehouse shareholders were expected to hold approximately 85% of the merged company, including substantial positions associated with the founding families and participating franchisees.¹⁷

That collective holding should be distinguished from an individual founder’s personal percentage ownership.¹⁷

Board structure

Sigma’s May 2025 corporate-governance statement described a post-merger board comprising five non-executive directors, including the chairman, and four executive directors.¹⁸

The company’s published board biographies identify Michael Sammells as chairman and Jack Gance, Mario Verrocchi, Damien Gance, and Danielle Di Pilla among directors appointed around the merger.¹⁹

Sigma’s executive-leadership disclosure identifies Vikesh Ramsunder as managing director and CEO, including responsibility for leading the group’s February 2025 merger and integration.²⁰

Related business activities

Sigma’s corporate history identifies Chemist Warehouse, Amcal, and Discount Drug Stores as retail pharmacy brands operating within the merged group’s business structure.⁶

The company also describes pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution operations serving thousands of pharmacies across Australia.⁶

No public evidence identified of Israeli government ownership, a state-held golden share, or an Israeli state institution exercising governance control over Chemist Warehouse or Sigma Healthcare.

No public evidence identified of a post-merger governance agreement conferring decision-making authority over the group on an Israeli state body or military organisation.

Executive & Leadership Footprint

Jack Gance - founder, former chairman, director

Jack Gance co-founded Chemist Warehouse with Sam Gance and previously served as chairman of the private Chemist Warehouse group.²¹

Sigma’s corporate biography records his appointment as a non-executive director in February 2025 and identifies his committee responsibilities within the merged company.²¹

In August 2022, Gance publicly discussed prospective Israeli market entry and interactions with Israeli economic authorities.^{1, 2}

On 21 March 2023, Gance directly participated in Israeli parliamentary proceedings concerning pharmaceutical and cosmetics-import regulation.³

During that hearing, Gance referred to his Jewish identity while explaining his interest in supplying affordable products to consumers in Israel.³

The same parliamentary transcript records Gance describing contact with Israeli Ministry of Economy representatives and the existence of an unnamed commercial partner associated with the expansion initiative.³

In August 2023, Gance publicly criticised Israeli import restrictions and alleged commercial resistance from established market participants.⁴

[pre-2020] In November 2018, Gance addressed a Young Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce event and selected Save a Child’s Heart as the beneficiary of the organiser’s charitable ticket-revenue arrangement.¹¹

[pre-2020] The documented Chamber activity occurred in 2018; continuing membership, financial support, or a formal leadership position remains unknown.¹¹

No public evidence identified of Gance personally financing Israeli military operations, settlement organisations, anti-Palestinian lobbying initiatives, or military-welfare funds.

No public evidence identified of Gance holding a board or executive position in an Israeli defence manufacturer or settlement organisation.

Sam Gance - co-founder

Sigma’s corporate history identifies Sam Gance as a Chemist Warehouse co-founder and longstanding participant in the original pharmacy business.⁶

Contemporaneous 2025 merger reporting identifies him among the founding principals with substantial economic interests associated with the combined company.¹⁷

No public evidence identified of Sam Gance making public Israel-Palestine advocacy statements, military donations, or settlement-related contributions.

No public evidence identified of a personal board appointment in an organisation advocating Israeli settlement expansion.

Mario Verrocchi - co-founder and executive director

Sigma’s published board information identifies Mario Verrocchi as Chemist Warehouse Group CEO and an executive director of the merged company.¹⁹

The corporate history identifies Verrocchi as a key figure in establishing My Chemist and the Chemist Warehouse retail chain.⁶

No public evidence identified of Verrocchi directing funds or resources to Israeli military, settlement, or geopolitical advocacy programmes.

No public evidence identified of Verrocchi holding a board position in an Israeli military supplier or settlement advocacy organisation.

Damien Gance - director

Sigma’s board disclosures identify Damien Gance as a director appointed following the 2025 merger and describe his prior senior role within the Chemist Warehouse business.¹⁹

No public evidence identified of Damien Gance financing Israeli military or settlement activities or publicly advocating Israel-Palestine policy positions in an official company capacity.

Danielle Di Pilla - director

Sigma’s board disclosures identify Danielle Di Pilla as an executive director and former Chemist Warehouse senior executive.¹⁹

The same disclosure identifies her involvement with DPP Pharmaceuticals and an external board position at Gotcha4Life.¹⁹

No public evidence identified of Di Pilla holding a board position in a pro-settlement organisation or contributing to Israeli military-welfare fundraising.

Vikesh Ramsunder - managing director and CEO

Sigma’s executive biography records Ramsunder’s appointment as managing director and CEO in February 2022 and describes his prior senior management career at South Africa’s Clicks Group.²⁰

He subsequently led the integration of Sigma Healthcare and Chemist Warehouse in February 2025.²⁰

No public evidence identified of Ramsunder making Israel-Palestine advocacy statements on behalf of the group or providing financial support to Israeli military or settlement organisations.

Michael Sammells - chairman

Sigma’s corporate biography identifies Michael Sammells as chairman since August 2022 and records his oversight of the February 2025 merger.²²

His published professional background includes senior financial and governance roles in Australian healthcare and financial-services companies.²²

No public evidence identified of Sammells holding leadership positions in Israeli geopolitical advocacy organisations, defence suppliers, or settlement bodies.

Other controlling interests, personal foundations and affiliations

No public evidence identified establishing an executive-controlled foundation, family office, or investment vehicle associated with Chemist Warehouse that made verified grants to Israeli military-welfare or settlement organisations.

No public evidence identified of a named controlling principal publicly endorsing Israeli settlement construction, forced displacement of Palestinians, or military attacks on Palestinian civilians.

No public evidence identified of a controlling principal sponsoring an anti-BDS legislative initiative after July 2024.