TAMPA, Fla. — Benzer Pharmacy is extending its reach in Florida with plans to open six new stores across the Tampa Bay area.

The independent retail pharmacy chain said Monday that the new stores will be located in Carrollwood, Brandon, Pinellas Park, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel and Lutz and will bring more than 60 new employees.

“We are currently seeing significant opportunities for continued expansion in both new and existing markets,” Ruidvin Ragunath, compliance manager for Benzer Pharmacy, said in a statement.

The Tampa, Fla.-based company, whose pharmacies specialize in compounding and specialty medications, currently has more than 40 locations in Florida, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas. Last month, the chain announced that it aims to acquire more pharmacies and has let it be known to pharmacy owners seeking to sell or retire that it’s set to buy.

This year, Benzer expects to grow at a rate of two new pharmacies per month and plans to expand to a minimum total of 58 locations throughout the United States. The company had sales of $98 million last year.

“Benzer Pharmacy has never experienced a better time to expand,” Ragunath added. “We have the sites, the financial resources, the people and a dramatic increasing demand for specialty medications and prescription drugs over the past years to fuel our growth.”

Along with personal service, Benzer attributes this rapid growth to its integrated package of free personalized home deliveries, customized medication packaging, free medication flavoring, online refill services, refill reminders, 90-day prescriptions and e-prescriptions. The chain also offers medication therapy management for such conditions as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression and asthma. Benzer, too, has launched Green Roots Nutrition, a nutritional supplements store aimed at providing wellness solutions.