Business News summary

Moss to launch own brand Moss Pharmacy is to start selling a range of own brand products under a Moss label. Until now the chain, which is owned by Alliance UniChem Plc, has sold the UniChem own brand range also used by independent pharmacies served by the UniChem wholesaling division...[more]

Moss bosses go back to the floor Pharmacists working for Moss Pharmacy at either its head office or in field-based management positions are to spend time working in the group’s pharmacies over the summer...[more]

New ABPI code allows brand name use Pharmaceutical companies will be able to use the brand names of competitors’ medicines in their promotional materials from July when a new version of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s code of practice takes effect...[more]

NEWS IN BRIEF

Asda moves to AAH Asda Stores has switched its pharmaceutical wholesaling contract from UniChem Ltd to AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The change will be phased in for Asda’s 76 pharmacies during July. “AAH has cut us a better deal,” Jeremy Armes, Asda’s pharmacy buyer, said. AAH is also first-line supplier to National Co-operative Chemists, Sainsburys, Superdrug and Tesco.

New depot for AAH in Swansea AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd is to open a new £2m branch at Riverside Business Park, Swansea Vale, Swansea, in October, five miles from its existing branch at Cwmbwria which was built in the 1960s and was formerly part of the Vestric chain.

New Vantage facia available Pharmacists who are part of AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd’s Vantage trading group will be able to have their names on the facia together with the Vantage logo as part of a new design available under the Vantage Refresh programme.

Goldshield expands in US Goldshield Group Plc recorded sales of £7.5m in the United States in the year to March 31, 2001, its first year of trading in the country. Overall the company, founded by pharmacists Ajit Patel and Kirti Patel, saw its sales and profits rise by one-third. Pre-tax profits were £7.99m on a turnover of £70.5m.

Lloyds trials pet medicines Pet medicines are being sold through 100 Lloydspharmacy branches in south Wales and south west England as part of a trial. Worming products and flea powders are among the medicines being sold. Lloyds says that the trial includes both rural and urban stores and, if successful, will be extended to other parts of the country.

NCC keeps growing National Co-operative Chemists Ltd has acquired three more pharmacies bringing its total to 282. Wheatly Pharmacy, Wheatly, Oxford, and Page Chemists, Fairstead, King’s Lynn, were purchased on June 1. A pharmacy at Bicester, Oxfordshire, is to be relocated into a Co-op retail development close to a GP surgery. Last month NCC announced its trading profits had increased by 21 per cent to £7.7m on a turnover of more than £180m.