Healthcare services group Uniphar has today announced a deal to buy Limerick-based TouchStore, which provides dispensing and retail management software to pharmacy teams across Ireland, for an undisclosed sum.
Today's deal comes after Uniphar made a "significant" investment in a new distribution facility in Dublin.
Uniphar said the deal provides long-term backing for TouchStore's product roadmap and continued innovation in support of the Irish community pharmacy sector, while enabling it to unlock greater service offerings for its wholesale customers from its ongoing infrastructural investment.
TouchStore employs 35 developers and support staff in its Limerick office and is led by its 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 to ensure the continued confidence of its existing and future customers.
Ian Madden, Managing Director of Uniphar's Supply Chain and Retail Division, said today's deal is "transformational".
"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," he said.
"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 stated.
Ger Cassidy, TouchStore's Managing Director, said that like Uniphar, the company are wholly committed to supporting its community pharmacy customers.
"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," he said.
"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," he added.
Ger Rabbette, Uniphar's CEO said the company was founded by pharmacists to support community pharmacies.
"Supporting the community pharmacy sector in playing its critical role in the Irish healthcare system is our core foundation and remains as true today as it did 60 years ago. 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," he added.
