RETAIL/WHOLESALE

Berlin  -  Cooperation instead of chain – at least for the moment: After missing its chance in the sale of Sweden's state-owned pharmacies, the British pharmaceutical business group Alliance Boots is now banking on cooperation with independent pharmacists. By cooperating with a Swedish pharmacists' association, the Brits are possibly catapulting themselves to the top with their brand.

The professional organisation, totalling 7500 members, created its own spin-off company called Farmacevtföretagarna as early as two years ago, which is to accompany pharmacists in self-employment in the new world. 250 colleagues have already registered interest in starting up their own pharmacies.

For this, the Swedish pharmacists have now secured the Boots brand: In January, Farmacevtföretagarna and Alliance Boots signed a declaration of intent with the aim of establishing a joint venture together. As soon as the system headquarters exist, Boots is to be advertised among the association members.

For Europe's leading operator of pharmacy chains, the cooperation with independent pharmacies is the door opener to the Swedish market: A contract clause keeping Boots away from them as a future competitor does not exist for the Swedish pharmacists. As soon as the brand exists, the company would be able to get started on creating its own chain.

Patrick Hollstein, Fri, Februay 19, 2010 03:43pm CET