The Entourage Effect has drawn up plans to open MiDispensary clinics in three more New South Wales cities as the company prepares to triple the size of its warehousing capabilities in Sydney.
Newly appointed chief executive Lisa Varley revealed the firm was six months away from opening a clinic in Newcastle, with further sites planned in Wollongong and Fairfield.
They will join MiDispensary’s Bondi Junction clinic in offering medicinal cannabis treatments to NSW patients.
All the locations will offer face-to-face consultations in addition to telehealth, with independently run pharmacies at each site.
“Our focus is NSW because we know how busy it already is in Queensland and there’s also a lot going on in Victoria,” Varley told Cannabiz. “But NSW tends to be forgotten, so that will be our focus rather than branching out across Australia and trying to be everything to everyone.”
News of the planned expansion came as The Entourage Effect showcased its new warehouse in Greenacre, south-west Sydney, to industry partners.
The distribution facility will have capacity for 80,000 units, a significant increase on its existing 25,000-unit centre in the inner-city suburb of Alexandria.
Alexandria will remain open once the Greenacre site receives its licence from the Department of Health, taking total capacity to 105,000 units.
Varley said the site should be fully operational and fulfilling orders in the next few weeks.
She said the facility will bring enhanced operational efficiencies for pharmacists and brand partners.
“This expansion underscores The Entourage Effect’s commitment to advancing the medicinal cannabis landscape, ensuring end-to-end support for our partners,” Varley added.
The Entourage Effect is also waiting on approval from the Pharmacy Guild to open a pharmacy at its Bondi Junction clinic.
Varley stressed it will have no financial interest in the pharmacy – or any future dispensing operation – which will be run independently of the business.
“We’d like patients to be able to see the doctor and get their medicine on the spot,” she said. “Our model is to ensure efficiencies wherever possible.”
On her appointment as CEO, The Entourage Effect founder Eidan Havas praised Varley’s “passion, experience and credibility within the industry”.
“We have full confidence in Lisa’s ability to lead both The Entourage Effect and MiDispensary,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to work with her to deliver exceptional results for our brand partners, pharmacies and patients.”
