[INTERVIEW] Pharmasave Partnership with Blue Rewards – Pointshogger

Some companies decided to discontinue their parntnership with Blue Rewards, but some chose to continue. So today, we get one of those perspectives with Ivan Guillen, Chief Executive Officer of Pharmasave who will share with us their rational for their continued partnership as Air Miles during their transition to Blue Rewards. In celebration of their continued partnership, Pharmasave is offering some generous bonuses (see below). Thank you Ivan for taking the time to answer our questions. 

1) Please tell us about yourself and your role with Pharmasave?

I’m Ivan Guillen, Chief Executive Officer of Pharmasave. I work with our leadership team to support the independent community pharmacy owners across our network. My focus is simple: helping those pharmacy owners access the programs, partnerships and operational support they need to compete, grow and continue serving their communities. Pharmasave’s national scale only has value if it supports that goal.

Our pharmacy owners are local business owners, healthcare providers and trusted members of their communities. When they are well-supported, they are better positioned to support their teams, care for their patients and customers, and contribute to the local communities around them.

2) Since this is the first time we are meeting, please tell us about Pharmasave?

Pharmasave is one of Canada’s leading independently owned and operated community pharmacies, with over 900 stores across the country. What makes Pharmasave unique is that we have a national footprint, but our pharmacies are deeply local. As a Canadian, member-owned and governed cooperative, we support independent pharmacy owners
who are rooted in the communities they serve.

Our pharmacies are not just places people go to pick up prescriptions. They are personalized hubs of care where customers can access trusted medication advice, everyday health and wellness products, and support from pharmacy teams who know their communities. We see our role as helping Canadians live well, and that starts with building long-term relationships with the people we serve. Whether it’s helping someone manage a chronic condition, providing guidance on everyday health concerns, or simply being a familiar and trusted presence in the community, we believe those personal connections are what set community pharmacy apart.

3) Why did Pharmasave choose to partner with Blue Rewards (previously Air Miles)?

As AIR MILES transitioned to Blue Rewards, continuing our partnership made sense because it supports something that has always been central to community pharmacy: ongoing relationships between customers and their pharmacy teams. The real value in community pharmacy comes from the deep customer knowledge built over time. A pharmacy team that has seen someone across many visits gets to know their medications, their health history, their goals, and in many cases, their family’s needs too. Loyalty matters when it helps increase the frequency of those visits, while also providing added value for the customers who regularly rely on us for their everyday health and wellness needs.

That value matters right now too, especially as affordability continues to be top of mind for many Canadians. A recent Leger survey commissioned by Blue Rewards found that nearly eight in 10 Canadians (78%) say loyalty programs help them save money on everyday essentials, while nearly three-quarters (72%) say loyalty programs are important when deciding where to shop during periods of economic uncertainty. Nearly two-thirds (65%) also say they are more likely to choose a pharmacy that offers a loyalty or rewards program over one that does not. Our community pharmacy owners are closest to home for millions of Canadians, and a partnership like Blue Rewards allows us to make that relationship work even harder for customers, helping support their health while also helping them get more value from the everyday purchases they are already making.

The reimagined Blue Rewards program gives Canadians a simple and flexible way to earn rewards on everyday health and wellness purchases, with an easy-to-use points system, expanded benefits and more redemption opportunities. It also connects in-store, online and digital experiences, making it easier for members to earn and redeem Blue Points. For Pharmasave customers, that flexibility extends to more than 800 participating locations nationwide. That means they can earn and redeem Blue Points in a familiar place they already rely on for their health and wellness needs, while
continuing to benefit from the trusted advice and personalized service offered by their local Pharmasave pharmacy team.

4) What else can we look forward to with Pharmasave in the loyalty rewards realm?

Customers can look forward to offers and promotions throughout the year at participating Pharmasave locations, helping them get even more value from the health, wellness, personal care and household purchases they already make.

Some upcoming Blue Rewards offers at participating Pharmasave locations include:

• June 25, 2026 to July 8, 2026: Participate in the Shop the Block promotion and unlock additional rewards opportunities across participating Blue Rewards partners.
• July 3, 2026 to July 9, 2026: Spend $50 on eligible purchases and receive 1,000 bonus Blue Points.
• July 24, 2026 to July 26, 2026: Earn 20x the Blue Points on eligible purchases across all Blue Rewards partner brands.
• August 14, 2026 to August 17, 2026: Exclusive offer at Pharmasave: Earn 20x the Blue Points on eligible purchases at participating locations.

5) Any closing thoughts?

For many Canadians, pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in their communities. Pharmasave pharmacists are extensively trained medication and immunization experts, and customers can turn to their local pharmacy teams for trusted advice and support with everyday health needs, whether that is vaccinations and medication reviews, chronic disease support or minor ailment services.

As pharmacists continue to play an expanding role in healthcare, including more prescribing authority in many provinces, people are turning to their local pharmacy teams for more of their everyday health needs. That’s why those ongoing relationships are becoming even more important. When a pharmacy team is familiar with a customer’s health history, medications and goals, it can help support more connected care over time.

For Pharmasave, Blue Rewards is another way to support that ongoing connection, while giving customers added value on the health and wellness essentials they count on
from their local pharmacy.

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