Pharmacy groups link in N.Z.

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 39

Pharmacy groups link in N.Z.

PA Wellington Community Pharmacy, Ltd, (CPL) has formed a new business link with the Auckland-based pharmacy group, Unichem. CPL is launching the Amcal pharmacy group in New Zealand having acquired the rights to distribute merchandise to Amcal franchisees.

The new link will give Unichem access to a distribution network through CPL, which is a national pharmacy co-operative wholesaler owned by more than 650 chemists and with seven warehouses throughout New Zealand, Unichem has 55 members.

. Unichem’s managing director, Mr Mike Gibson,

said his company’s members had voted overwhelmingly for the merger alliance with CPL in preference to other options. “There are both immediate and long-term benefits for both parties. The expertise and professionalism of Community Pharmacy and their ability to provide instant national distribution were instrumental in our decision,” Mr Gibson said. “CPL’s backing will give us the impetus to increase our membership and to become a national marketing group.”

Unichem chairman, Mr Mark Vuksich, said directors had decided the core of Unichem’s business in future should be in

national marketing rather than in short-line drug wholesaling. “Pharmacies nationally can now look forward to a choice of two national viable marketing operations,” he said. CPL managing director, Mr lan Jennings, said that being involved in both pharmacy groups was an advantage. “It increases the acceptance of the group concept by retail pharmacy when you have two active marketing groups,” he said. “We see the need to put to our members a choice of groups. Put together, the. collective buying power of Amcal and Unichem will bring members substantial benefits.”