21 August 2019 - Deborah Wilkes
Zur Rose has released financial results, Rite Aid has a new chief executive officer, and Shop Apotheke Europe is seeking a new chief financial officer.
Zur Rose's sales up by 28%
Switzerland's Zur Rose Group – the e-commerce pharmacy that owns DocMorris – reported sales of CHF772 million (USD785 million) in the first half of 2019.
The company's sales, which include the recently-acquired Medpex business, were up by 28.1% compared to the same period a year earlier. Excluding Medpex, sales were up by 10.9% as reported and by 12.9% in local currencies.
Zur Rose said sales at its German business had increased by 46.2% in local currencies to CHF481 million. During 2018, Zur Rose expanded its presence in Germany by acquiring the e-commerce business of Medpex in a deal worth around EUR120 million (USD135 million) plus earnouts (click here to read the News story). The company also announced a "strategic collaboration" with omnichannel pharmacy apo-rot (click here to read the News story).
Sales at Zur Rose's Swiss business increased by 4.3% to CHF273 million in the first half of 2019, while sales in the rest of Europe were up by 34.5% to CHF17.9 million.
In 2018, Zur Rose acquired the Spanish managed e-commerce platform Promofarma (click here to read the News story). Zur Rose recently announced that it was moving into France by acquiring the Doctipharma marketplace from Lagardère for an undisclosed sum (click here to read the News story).
Zur Rose reported a loss of CHF2.46 million before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, but this was down from CHF8.96 million in the same period a year earlier.
Commenting on prospects for the whole of 2019, Zur Rose said sales, including Medpex, were expected to increase by over 30% to around CHF1.6 billion.
Rite Aid names new chief executive
Rite Aid has appointed Heyward Donigan as chief executive officer with immediate effect.
The US-based pharmacy chain said Donigan had "30 years of experience in all aspects of the healthcare industry". The retailer highlighted her "broad healthcare knowledge" and "digital shopping technology expertise".
Donigan joins Rite Aid from Sapphire Digital, formerly known as Vitals, where she was president and chief executive officer. The company designs and develops omnichannel platforms that help consumers choose the most appropriate healthcare provider.
She replaces John Standley who Rite Aid announced in March 2019 was leaving the company.
Vacancy at Shop Apotheke Europe
Shop Apotheke Europe has announced that its chief financial officer Ulrich Wandel is leaving the company on 30 September 2019.
The Netherlands-based online pharmacy said Wandel, who has held the post for 10 years, was leaving "on his own request to pursue new tasks".
Shop Apotheke Europe said discussions with potential replacements were already underway.