Hutchings becomes an employee ownership trust

Pharmacy sales specialists Hutchings has transitioned to an employee ownership trust (EOT) and promoted four employees as part of the move (March 3).

New chief executive Anne Hutchings said the new model “secures our future, empowers our employees, and allows us to continue delivering exceptional service to pharmacy owners across the UK”.

Read more: Two thirds of pharmacy owners want to buy or sell in 2025, reveal pharmacy brokers

The managing director position she moved from has been taken up by Scott Hayton, and Alan Akerman and Like Williams have been promoted to directors.

“The EOT model aligns perfectly with our mission of supporting independent pharmacies,” added Hayton. “It reassures sellers we are working with, that they’re placing their business in the hands of a company that has a vested interest in both their success and that of the sector’s ongoing.”

Everest Pharmacy buy five north-west pharmacies 

Manchester-based Everest Pharmacy have bought five pharmacies in the north west, bringing their total to 22 pharmacies it owns in the region (February 25). 

The pharmacies in Bolton and Accrington have been sold by Sykes Chemist Group who now have nine branches, as they decided to sell as part of a strategic review. 

Read more: January 2025 market update: First-time pharmacy buyers rocket as GP investors enter the market

C+D previously reported the five pharmacies in question – Gatleys Pharmacy, Haslams Pharmacy, Rigbys Chemist, Howards Pharmacy and Paradise Street Pharmacy – hit the market back in July at a combined £1.845m price, but was sold at an undisclosed price. 

Pharmacy brokers Christie & Co said the pharmacies generated a lot of interest and multiple offers, and together they dispense around 33,000 items per month. 

Hammam Baths and shipping containers

A West Yorkshire branch of Rowlands Pharmacy is set to have a two floor extension built above its premises for a new wellbeing centre (February 21). 

The Cleckheaton pharmacy’s extension has “conditional full permission” from Kirklees Council, and the extension will see services such as Hammam Baths, massages, hair treatments and other health checks provided in the newly built space. 

In Wales, HOW Pharm Ltd have taken over Llandrindod Wells’ Lakeside Pharmacy to add to two other pharmacies they own in the region (March 4).

Read more: Property round-up: Husband-wife team purchase their third pharmacy to ‘synergise’ their offer to the community

It said in a Facebook post that it will grow its services and the current team will remain with the business and soon it will “be advertising for more staff”.

A shipping container pharmacy has now applied for a “permanent pharmacy unit” to replace its current temporary premises (February 4).

The application for the Warminster pharmacy proposed by Povey Properties is under consultation with Wiltshire Council as it has been “designed to integrate with the existing row of shops and improve pharmaceutical services for the local community”.

Read more: Market round-up as 67 year old family-owned community pharmacy sold

C+D previously reported on the shipping container application, and this new application “represents a logical and necessary improvement for the area … that meets current and future community needs”.

In Northern Ireland, a planning application to redevelop a site with a community pharmacy and five apartments has been refused (February 21). 

Pharmacy Plus’ application to transform the Shore Road premises in Whiteabbey, north of Belfast, saw 66 letters of objection. 

Read more: Revealed: Who snapped up the most Lloydspharmacy premises?

Among the concerns laid out related to “a lack of need for a pharmacy” or for one at this location, and the impact the proposed pharmacy may have on drawing “trade from other local pharmacies and ultimately affect services for local communities”. 

It also added the application proposed an “unacceptable design and appearance” which would impact listed buildings and the village’s character, as well as “unacceptable access arrangement” for car parking and road safety. 

Boots for sale

And a former Boots is still up for sale in Swindon and looking for offers at just over a quarter of million pounds. 

Located in the Old town’s main retail street, the three-storey building has space for accommodation or additional offices above the ground floor retail and dispensary space as the whole site comes in at just under 2,500 sq ft. 

Three at-risk pharmacies stay open after sale

Three pharmacies across Yorkshire and Lancashire that were going to close have now all been bought separately to stay open (March 4).

Previous owners Adiran and Clare Naylor wanted to retire and considered closing Gargrave Pharmacy in Skipton, C.E Naylor Pharmacy in Brighouse, and The Village Pharmacy in Nelson.

Read more: Property round-up: Sales, openings, planning permissions, and very efficient robots...

Christie & Co’s Tom Young said the couple did not think there would be much interest “due to the ongoing cost pressures facing the pharmacy sector” but multiple offers came in for all three.

The Skipton and Brighouse pharmacies have been sold to first-time buyers to Qashif Ahmed and Aneela Raja respectively, and BMT Healthcare North have bought the Nelson pharmacy to take their portfolio to eight branches.

Peak Pharmacy 

One of the largest UK independent community pharmacy groups has sold one of its Leicestershire pharmacies (February 17). 

Ibstock’s Peak Pharmacy dispenses the lower-range of 2,700 items per month, as Peak sold it to suit an owner-operator. 

Founded in 1981 by Peter Cattee, Peak Pharmacy has around 150 pharmacies after establishing itself in 1981, and first-time buyer Jayes Hotchandani has snapped up the standard hours pharmacy.

Read more: ‘Immediate need’: Council mulls temporary pharmacy in shipping container

Christie & Co pharmacy director Carl Steer said Hotchandani will “be successful and drive the business forward”. 

He added: “We have been pleased to act for Peak Pharmacy to divest of some of their smaller branches in recent years. All the completed sales have been sold to first-time buyers who will go on to operate the pharmacy with a hands-on approach.” 

First-time buys

Glasgow’s Rightdose Pharmacy has been sold by its owners to a first-time buyer who decided to scale back its retail business (February 20).

Medisure Pharmacy in Caldmore, Walsall, was sold to first-time buyer Liam Gill by MK Pharma Ltd to concentrate on other business interests (February 13).

Read more: Council greenlights plans to turn ‘In Bread’ sandwich shop into a pharmacy

Christie & Co said more independent pharmacies are coming onto the market in the region and it expects a growing interest from more independent buyers.

Gargrave Pharmacy, C.E Naylor Pharmacy, The Village Pharmacy, Peak Pharmacy, Rightdose Pharmacy and Medisure Pharmacy and have been sold for undisclosed prices.