Regular, radical and fundamental change is vital to keep Numark a leader in an increasingly competititve world, Mr Terry Norris (managing director, Numark) said when he addressed the Numark conference on October 13. There was a need constantly to reinvent the business and challenge what was being done in the light of rapidly changing market conditions.
He urged pharmacists present to consider all of Numark's proposals that they would hear about during the conference and where necessary, to challenge them. He called on them to take part in regional committees, local meetings and events such as the annual general meeting and the conference. Not enough shareholders did, said Mr Norris.
He went on to say that the world in which Numark operated continued to evolve at a rapid pace. Ethical manufacturers were combining. There was another round of wholesaler consolidation under way. And the Government was continuing to introduce new health care policies which paid little heed to the untapped potential of community pharmacy.
"The independent pharmacist cannot sit on the sidelines," he said.
"To deliver the real prize of undoubted leadership of independent community pharmacy . . . the shareholders need to focus their minds first and above all else on Numark." Numark was a "great business", which was unique in the United Kingdom and perhaps in the whole of Europe. "We must make it stronger; make your voice heard," Mr Norris said.