UniPhar profits rise by 21% to €9.3m

PROFITS at healthcare distributor UniPhar jumped 21% to €9.3 million last year, the company said yesterday. Sales were up 17% to €408m as the company succeeded in growing its share of what it called a "very competitive market".

UniPhar's activities include wholesale depots in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Sligo, distribution from its Allphar centres in Dublin and Belfast, and a specialist medical supplies business. The group employs over 350 people and holds the number two position in healthcare distribution, behind the publicly-quoted United Drug.

Chief executive Jim Canavan said all areas of the group's business performed "exceptionally well". He said the group's Cork depot, which opened in January 2003, had beaten expectations. "At a time when other wholesalers reduced their respective number of depots to three, we felt it important to improve service by opening a fourth depot," said Mr Canavan.