Divisions: Healthcare Supply Chain: Pharma Wholesale: Sangers

Prima Brands Limited

Sangers (NI) Ltd Sangers has been supplying pharmaceutical and healthcare products to retail and hospital pharmacies in Northern Ireland for almost 150 years. Founded as a retail pharmacy operating from Victoria Street in Belfast in 1881 the company was originally known as Thomas McMullan and Co. but changed its name to Sangers (Northern Ireland) Ltd in the early 1980s.

Its success can be attributed to continued investment in people and innovative information technology. Sangers has continued to lead the field in the local marketplace and has never been daunted by the competitive challenge posed by the larger UK wholesalers. Sangers joined the United Drug Group in November 1992.

Today Sangers operates out of three depots in the province - Belfast, Maryland and Omagh employing approximately 270 people and providing vital local employment within the province's marketplace. Sangers delivers to every pharmacy in Northern Ireland twice daily backed up by a 24/7 emergency call out service 365 days a year utilizing a fleet of 43 commercial vehicles.

On an average day Sangers will deliver approximately 80,000 items. Annual turnover is in excess of £200m a year placing the company in the province's top 100 companies.

Sangers Service Culture - Sangers (NI) Ltd is committed to achieving sustained, profitable growth by providing services, which consistently satisfy the needs and expectations of our customers. We offer a premium service to ensure customer delivery requirements are fulfilled and will measure and record this performance as a basis for future quality planning and continual improvement through our Excellence and Quality Programme.

Commitment to Service -

• Twice-daily delivery to all pharmacies in Northern Ireland.
• Full range of ethical products held in stock; comprehensive wholesaler.
• "Special"order processing facility for obscure items.
• Deferred delivery inter-depot stock switching system.
• Full range of generic and Pls stocked.
• Full range of OTC and P medicines stocked.
• Comprehensive national and local promotional calendar.
• 24/7/365 emergency call out service.
• Electronic and telesales ordering facility.
• Competitive discounts.

One of Sangers major strengths is the role it can play for pharmacists wishing to set up a new business. Senior management can provide support in all areas relating to the business prior to making a purchase decision.

Areas of support include:

• Business and financial planning.
• Stock loans.
• Advice on profitability.
• In-store shop planning.
• External shop facias.
• Financial planning.

Sangers value added services also include pre-registration pharmacist programmes which are open to both hospital and community pre-registration pharmacists. These programmes include five interactive practical days covering a wide range of subjects along with an interactive online case study programme called Caseinteract – with a key focus on responding to symptoms.