Cosmed

Cosmed

A Cosmed store in Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Pharmacy Health care Beauty care
Founded	July 27, 1995 (1995-07-27)
Headquarters	Taiwan
Area served	China Taiwan
Key people	Shirley Kao Wang Pao Ming
Revenue	NT$11.027 billion (in 2018)1
Number of employees	3800 2
Parent	Uni-President Enterprises Corporation
Website	www.cosmed.com.tw

Cosmed (Chinese: 康是美; Tongyong Pinyin: Kāng Shì Měi; Tâi-lô: Khong-sī-bí) is a Taiwanese health care and beauty care chain store. It is owned and operated by Uni-President Enterprises Corporation. Its name is a combination of the first letters of "cosmetics" and "medicine", embodying the two key elements of health and beauty. The company logo, featuring a woodpecker, symbolizes a "forest doctor" healing trees, implying the protection of consumer health. In its early marketing campaigns, a mascot named "Coco the Bird" frequently appeared.³

As of 2026, Cosmed has over 600 stores in Taiwan and actively expanded into e-commerce and instant delivery services, making it one of the major drugstore retailers in the country.

Cosmed was established in 1989 with investment from Uni-President Enterprises Corporation. The company initially operated as a small pharmacy chain providing basic pharmaceutical and household products. In September 1995, Uni-President established Uni-President Living Business Corporation as the operating company for the brand.

During the mid-1990s, Cosmed shifted from the traditional pharmacy model to a modern health and beauty store format in response to growing demand in Taiwan for cosmetics, healthcare products, and personal care items. Stores expanded their product range to include beauty products, health supplements, and lifestyle goods.⁴

During the 2000s, Cosmed expanded rapidly across Taiwan through large-scale store openings. The chain introduced in-store pharmacist consultation services, health management programs, and beauty-related services as part of its retail strategy. The company also introduced private-label products during this period, aiming to reduce supply chain costs and strengthen its market position.⁵

In September 2001, after Typhoon Nari hit Taiwan, Cosmed proactively destroyed nearly 10 tons of flood-damaged products, worth over NT$30 million.⁶

In the 2010s, Cosmed expanded into e-commerce and online-to-offline retail services. The company launched online shopping platforms and integrated digital ordering with physical store operations.⁷

In 2021, Cosmed introduced a new "Cosmed Pharmacy" store format with expanded prescription dispensing and consultation functions. By 2024, the chain had grown to more than 400 stores located in residential districts, commercial centers, and transportation hubs across Taiwan.⁸

The company later launched the "Cosmed eShop" online platform and the "Cosmed NOW" delivery service, using the logistics network of 7-Eleven Taiwan to provide store pickup and rapid delivery services.⁹

As of 2026, Cosmed has over 600 stores in Taiwan and actively expanded into e-commerce and instant delivery services, making it one of the major drugstore retailers in the country.¹⁰