Irish pharma wholesaler Uniphar acquires Limerick's Touchstone

Irish pharmacy sector detail comes amid rapidly evolving sectoral landscape

Ger Cassidy Managing Director of TouchStore and Ian Madden Managing Director of Uniphar's Supply Chain and Retail Division.

Irish pharmaceutical wholesaler Uniphar has acquired Limerick-based dispensing software firm TouchStore.

Irish-owned Touchstone also provides retail solutions, including point of sale systems. Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

Uniphar, which recently made a significant investment in a new distribution facility in Dublin, said the deal provides long-term backing for TouchStore’s products, while enabling Uniphar to unlock greater service offerings for its wholesale customers.

TouchStore employs 35 developers and support staff in its Limerick office. The company is led by founder, Ger Cassidy. The company will continue to operate as a separate legal entity with its existing management and support teams in place and appropriate data segregation safeguards ensuring the continued confidence of TouchStore’s existing and future customers.

Ian Madden, Managing Director of Uniphar’s Supply Chain and Retail Division, described the acquisition as a transformational deal. 

"We’re really excited about what TouchStore will allow us to do for our wholesale community pharmacy customers. 

"Combining our supply chain expertise with dispensing and retail management software creates a compelling proposition, which will enable pharmacies to increase efficiency, reduce costs and improve ordering and stock management.” 

“In addition to this investment, Uniphar is currently building a state-of-the-art wholesale distribution centre in Dublin which will double our capacity and, when fully completed, transform our offering to Irish pharmacy teams with a range of technology-based solutions which will significantly reduce the non-clinical workload in pharmacies," he said.

“Our overall goal is to provide community pharmacy with the business supports and services they need to grow their business, simplify their operations, reduce their costs and, most importantly, free up pharmacy teams to spend more time meeting the clinical needs of patients, which is what research shows again and again is what the customers of community pharmacies most value. TouchStore is an innovative and progressive business with a great management team, and we are delighted to welcome them into Uniphar.” 

 Ger Cassidy, TouchStore Managing Director, said the pharmacy landscape is evolving rapidly. Uniphar’s backing will help TouchStore to continue to lead pharmacy technology innovation and allow us to provide our pharmacy customers with the support they need, as the HSE and the wider sector move more towards digital operations. Our technology is wholesaler agnostic, so we will continue to be able to work with all pharmacies in the Irish market. We’re very excited by the opportunities for growth and innovation that being part of Uniphar will bring.

Ger Rabbette, Uniphar plc CEO said: "Our investment in TouchStore, along with our state-of-the-art wholesale distribution facility, enables us to further enhance our wholesale service offering to the community pharmacy sector."