United Drug - About Us

History

Company History
Where it all began
United Drug Plc today occupies the primary position in Pharmaceutical Distribution and Wholesaling throughout Ireland, and over the last number of years has further developed into a much broader healthcare services provider with the development of the Contract Distribution, Contract Sales Outsourcing and joint venture activities in the UK. United Drug originated from a much smaller business base in Ballina Co Mayo on 1st January 1948, the primary objective of which was to provide an enhanced service to Pharmacists in the West of Ireland. From these modest beginnings the business developed with an additional distribution location in Limerick in 1952; subsequently becoming a national business force in 1972 with the purchase of Ayrton Saunders and new facilities in Dublin at Drumcondra. Throughout the 1970's and 1980's the Dublin operations continued to expand and the business centre changed to Glasnevin. The next strategic step was a Management led buy out from Irish Distillers Group in 1986. In 1992 United Drug gained a listing on the Dublin and London Stock Exchanges and became a PLC. Pharmaceutical acquisitions in Northern Ireland followed with the Sangers and Smiths businesses in 1992. Also at this time the Head Office function and the distribution moved to a larger premises at Belgard Road in Tallaght. A Joint venture with Unichem PLC in the UK established United Drug in 1996, and the following year the Irish business grew substantially with the acquisition of Dublin Drug. This has led to the Magna Park Distribution facility being opened in 2001 to match the growth in business, and to provide both an efficient and effective centre for our customers to receive a high quality service into the future. Over the years United Drug has continued to develop its distribution, packaging and wholesaling business in Ireland and the UK through several acquisitions including Primacare, Bradbury (2003), TD Packaging (2005), Masta, Magir (2006) and JVA (2007). In 2007 operations were expanded to Europe with the purchase of Budelpack in Belgium and the European Packaging Centre in the Netherlands. United Drug has also diversified and strengthened its presence in other healthcare services areas including Medical & scientific device services and Contract Sales Outsourcing (1999). UD first entered the Medical and Scientific market (M&S) through the acquisition of Trinity instruments (1990) and Novapath (1995). Since 2002, the division has undergone substantial growth with the purchase of several business including New Splint, Ormealt, Mantis, Presearch and Mediscope Ltd. Endoscopy. Today the Division has business units operating in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Great Britain providing contract distribution services, and sales and marketing services supported by clinical and technical support expertise to manufacturers of medical and scientific equipment and consumables. Contract Service Organisations (CSO's) specialise in employing contract sales representatives and professional Nurse Advisors on behalf of pharmaceutical companies. United Drug plc's Contract Sales Organisation operates in the UK and Europe through Ashfield In2Focus Ltd - a company created on 1st July 2007 following the merger of Ashfield Healthcare and In2Focus. The CSO business was strengthened in 2007 by the addition of a UK based pharmaceutical conference services operator, Procon, in the UK and Alliance in the US.

Company History

Where it all began

United Drug Plc today occupies the primary position in Pharmaceutical Distribution and Wholesaling throughout Ireland, and over the last number of years has further developed into a much broader healthcare services provider with the development of the Contract Distribution, Contract Sales Outsourcing and joint venture activities in the UK.

United Drug originated from a much smaller business base in Ballina Co Mayo on 1st January 1948, the primary objective of which was to provide an enhanced service to Pharmacists in the West of Ireland. From these modest beginnings the business developed with an additional distribution location in Limerick in 1952; subsequently becoming a national business force in 1972 with the purchase of Ayrton Saunders and new facilities in Dublin at Drumcondra.

Throughout the 1970's and 1980's the Dublin operations continued to expand and the business centre changed to Glasnevin. The next strategic step was a Management led buy out from Irish Distillers Group in 1986.

In 1992 United Drug gained a listing on the Dublin and London Stock Exchanges and became a PLC. Pharmaceutical acquisitions in Northern Ireland followed with the Sangers and Smiths businesses in 1992. Also at this time the Head Office function and the distribution moved to a larger premises at Belgard Road in Tallaght.

A Joint venture with Unichem PLC in the UK established United Drug in 1996, and the following year the Irish business grew substantially with the acquisition of Dublin Drug.

This has led to the Magna Park Distribution facility being opened in 2001 to match the growth in business, and to provide both an efficient and effective centre for our customers to receive a high quality service into the future.

Over the years United Drug has continued to develop its distribution, packaging and wholesaling business in Ireland and the UK through several acquisitions including Primacare, Bradbury (2003), TD Packaging (2005), Masta, Magir (2006) and JVA (2007). In 2007 operations were expanded to Europe with the purchase of Budelpack in Belgium and the European Packaging Centre in the Netherlands.

United Drug has also diversified and strengthened its presence in other healthcare services areas including Medical & scientific device services and Contract Sales Outsourcing (1999).

UD first entered the Medical and Scientific market (M&S) through the acquisition of Trinity instruments (1990) and Novapath (1995). Since 2002, the division has undergone substantial growth with the purchase of several business including New Splint, Ormealt, Mantis, Presearch and Mediscope Ltd. Endoscopy.

Today the Division has business units operating in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Great Britain providing contract distribution services, and sales and marketing services supported by clinical and technical support expertise to manufacturers of medical and scientific equipment and consumables.

Contract Service Organisations (CSO's) specialise in employing contract sales representatives and professional Nurse Advisors on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.

United Drug plc's Contract Sales Organisation operates in the UK and Europe through Ashfield In2Focus Ltd - a company created on 1st July 2007 following the merger of Ashfield Healthcare and In2Focus. The CSO business was strengthened in 2007 by the addition of a UK based pharmaceutical conference services operator, Procon, in the UK and Alliance in the US.