Pharmacy Daily | Sigma awards top suppliers

NOVARTIS has been named Sigma's 2018 Supplier of the Year during a gala awards dinner in Melbourne last night.

Sigma ceo Mark Hooper presented Novartis customer service manager Australia/NZ Denys Patterson with the award, in recognition of the supplier's commitment to promoting strong business partnerships with Sigma, its pharmacy brand members and to improving patient engagement.

Novartis also took out the 2018 Wholesale Ethicals Supplier of the Year category.

"The Sigma Supplier of the Year award has become a very important annual industry award because it recognises the continued efforts and support shown by our business partners to achieve shared goals and outcomes," said Sigma ceo Mark Hooper.

"It is only when we work effectively with our suppliers that we can ensure we deliver the best outcomes for consumers and our member pharmacies," he said.

It was the seventh annual Sigma Supplier Awards, with the other major winner on the night being Proctor & Gamble, which took out the National Retail Supplier of the Year award as well as the FMCG Supplier of the Year category.

Special guests included model and TV personality Rachael Finch, who is also Amcal's Beauty Ambassador, along with the entire Sigma Healthcare board of directors, with highlights including a performance by comedian Dave Hughes.

During the evening funds were raised for the Summer Foundation, Sigma's charity partner which supports young people with disabilities in independent living.

Hooper presented the foundation with a cheque for $55,600 at the end of the evening (pictured).

Other category winners included Bayer (Medicinal Supplier of the Year); Blackmores (Health & Wellbeing Supplier of the Year); Natio (Cosmetics/Skincare Supplier of the Year); Ego (Wholesale/OTC Supplier of the Year); ProQuest (Services Supplier of the Year); and Australian Pharmacy Sleep Services (Health Services Supplier of the Year).