Sigma-Alliance Boots pact
December 12, 2013
Sigma Pharmaceuticals has
today launched an “exclusive
product partnership” with
UK pharmacy giant Alliance
Boots, which will see the Boots
Laboratories skincare portfolio
available through Amcal, Amcal
Max and Guardian pharmacies
across Australia.
Sigma ceo Mark Hooper,
who’s pictured right with the
company’s chief operating officer
Gary Dunne, told PD that the
deal continues the company’s
push to support its pharmacy
partners by investing in the retail
brands to help combat the impact
of PBS reform.
“This is a product that’s exclusive
to pharmacy with great margins,”
Hooper said, adding that it
“demonstrates the leverage that
Sigma can bring to the table” to
access product not available to
individual pharmacists.
He said the deal was the outcome
of around two years of work, with
Sigma evaluating the local brand
recognition for Boots which enjoys
a strong reputation for quality.
The products include Optiva,
a “complete everyday skincare
regime,” Serum, targeting early
signs of ageing, and Serum Lift, a
“complete anti-ageing regime to
target deep lines and wrinkles”.
The new product range, which
is in store from today, will be
promoted through radio, catalogue
and in-store campaigns.
Hooper said that Sigma would
explore further collaborations with
Boots in the future.
MEANWHILE Hooper also said
Sigma was continuing to feel the
impacts of PBS reform, but this
is being mitigated as pharmacies
evolve their business to focus on
new front-of-shop categories and
away from the dispensary.
“There’s no doubt the PBS is in
negative territory,” he said, with the
company expecting this trend to
continue into 2014.
Hooper said that issues faced by
Sigma as a wholesaler are similar to
those of its pharmacy customers,
with PBS reform forcing it to
diversify its income.
“If pharmacists grow their front of
shop business so do we,” he said.
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