Pharmacy Daily | Swisse global partnership

Australian complementary medicines supplier Swisse Wellness has today announced a landmark collaboration with an offshoot of Proctor & Gamble which will see its products available through a worldwide network of stockists. The deal is with PGT Healthcare, a joint venture of P&G and Teva Pharmaceuticals, which distributes products including Metamucil and Vicks through outlets including the Boots pharmacy chain in the UK, Watsons in Asia and French supermarket group Carrefour. The partnership intends growing its range of more than 100 vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) over the next few years, combining the deep go-to-market expertise of PGT with Swisse’s portfolio and marketing model. Swisse Wellness says it’s been the fastest growing OTC company in the world in the last five years and has led the VMS market in Australia. Swisse Wellness products are currently promoted in Australia, NZ and the US, with today’s deal seeing it enter as yet untapped markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America and more than 20 other countries by the end of the decade. Melbourne, Australia will remain the global headquarters of Swisse Wellness – where the company began and has operated from its inception in the 1960’s. The global expansion is expected to result in more Aussie jobs too. Swisse says the licensing deal will create a new global ‘megabrand’ with the aim of replicating the company’s success in Australia “to become one of the leading players in the $80 billion global VMS market”. “We are delighted to be partnering with Swisse Wellness,” said PGT Healthcare ceo Briain de Buitleir. “Their track record of growth in Australia is truly exceptional.” Swisse Wellness Chief Executive Officer Radek Sali is likewise thrilled at the landmark agreement, saying “this is a wonderful moment in our company’s history. “We are pleased that the success of our business and strength of the brand in Australia has led to this global opportunity,” he added. Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said the announcement was another example of a great Victorian business demonstrating its global capabilities. “The expansion of the Swisse HQ in Collingwood to double its size over the next few years shows that advanced manufacturing in Victoria is alive and well and growing across high-quality, well-designed consumer products,” he said.

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