History
José Constantino Correia Rosa founded this brand. Today, his granddaughter, Catarina Rosa Tacanho, is at the helm of the company – Farmácias Correia Rosa.
What sets us apart, and what has always set us apart? Looking after the health of the community we are part of, with care, professionalism and innovation.
Margarida Tacanho, Catarina Tacanho and Eduarda Rosa, the daughters and granddaughter of Dr José Rosa
Who was Dr Rosa?
José Constantino Correia Rosa was born in Alenquer in 1917. He studied pharmacy in Lisbon and, in 1944, moved to Caldas da Rainha with his wife, Maria dos Anjos Costa Rosa. His father, Gregório da Silva Rosa (1881–1972), was also a pharmacist and owned a chemist’s in Alenquer.
The couple had two daughters, Margarida Rosa Tacanho and Maria Eduarda Rosa, who is also a pharmacist (a lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon). Dr Rosa’s first place of work was the Branco Lisboa Pharmacy.
José Constantino Correia Rosa was a Rotarian and served as Governor of Rotary Caldas in 1966.
Building a chain of pharmacies
On 1 July 1949, Dr José Constantino Correia Rosa, having worked hard and sought financial assistance from family and friends, acquired his first pharmacy – Farmácia Caldense – which went on to become one of the city’s leading pharmacies. An entrepreneur with a keen eye for business and an optimistic outlook, in 1958 he opened his second chemist’s in the city, Farmácia Rosa. The first premises were on Rua Fonte do Pinheiro, in a former chemist’s warehouse, where it remained for 10 years. It then moved to Rua Raúl Proença and, finally, in 1983, relocated to its current location on Avenida 1º de Maio.
From 1964 to 1975, Farmácia Caldense and Rosa were managed by Sociedade Industrial Farmacêutica SA. During this period, José Rosa worked in Lisbon at Laboratórios Azevedos.
He returned to Caldas da Rainha after the 25 April revolution and, in 1976, opened a chemist’s in Santa Catarina, run by Farmácia Caldense. This chemist’s is now known as Farmácia Santa Catarina.
The legacy of Dr José Constantino Correia Rosa
Dr Rosa passed away on 8 March 1999, leaving behind a solid company with a promising future. Meanwhile, Catarina Rosa Tacanho, daughter of Margarida Rosa Tacanho, who was already studying Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto, returned to Caldas da Rainha to run the family business. She began in 2003 at Farmácia Caldense, which, under the legislation in force at the time, she was required to own.
In 2010, the chemist’s in Santa Catarina was converted into a pharmacy and also moved to new premises; it is now known as Farmácia Santa Catarina.
On 1 January 2011, Correia Rosa merged with Farmácia Caldense and Farmácia Santa Catarina, which were also owned by the family. Consequently, the company Correia Rosa Lda now operates three pharmacies: Caldense, Rosa and Santa Catarina, and is owned by the founder’s daughters.
Between 2016 and 2018, we opened an orthopaedic shop; however, the group continues to develop and operate its orthopaedic services within its pharmacies.
The same service, in a new venue
In April 2022, Caldense Pharmacy is moving to new premises on Rua Vitorino Frois, in a busy thoroughfare and gateway to the city. With this move, we now have a larger customer service area, enabling us to offer a wider range of products and services and serve a larger community of customers.
Catarina Rosa Tacanho
The company is currently owned by Catarina Rosa Tacanho, the founder’s granddaughter and managing partner, and Maria Margarida Rosa Tacanho, the founder’s daughter.
Catarina Rosa Tacanho, born in 1976, is a pharmacist who graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Porto and has undertaken various training courses in management and leadership. She has been at the helm of the company since 2003. A mother of two, she is proudly dedicated to the company, honouring her grandfather’s legacy in a solid business that has successfully adapted to current circumstances and has prospects for a healthy future.
On 24 February 2023, she was honoured by the Rotary Club of Caldas as Professional of the Year, in recognition of her devotion, excellence and dedication to her profession. Find out more about Dr Catarina Rosa Tacanho, here!
Catarina Rosa Tacanho – Managing Director of Correia Rosa Pharmacies