United Drug is set to strengthen its packaging and speciality services division with the $61m (€49.5m) cash acquisition of the US and European operations of Indian healthcare services giant, Bilcare Ltd.

FRUIT and vegetable distribution company, Total Produce, has reported a 3.8% year-on-year rise in first half pre-tax profit to €25.3 million; with revenues up, by the same measure, by 1.7% at €1.33 billion.