United Co-operatives acquires Williams pharmacy group

United Co-operatives

The UK’s largest regional co-operative, United Co-operatives, has acquired the 56 branch P. Williams pharmacy group for an undisclosed sum in the biggest deal ever agreed by the Rochdale-based society.  

With an annual turnover of more than £50 million and employing 600 staff in its retail and wholesale operations, the family-run Williams business is one of the few remaining large scale pharmacy operations in the UK.  Its acquisition makes United Co-operatives Health Care Group the UK’s fifth largest pharmacy chain, a remarkable achievement for a business which only three years ago wasn’t even in the top 10.

In announcing the acquisition, United’s Chief Executive, Peter Marks, said: “The P. Williams pharmacy group has an excellent reputation for looking after both customers and staff and we are delighted that it is joining United Co-operatives Health Care Group at such an exciting time for our business.  Three years ago we had 129 pharmacies, following this acquisition we have 230 and we are all set for further growth which will take us to over 300 branches within the year.

“The Williams acquisition completes phase 1 of the strategic plan we put in place in 2003, immediately after the formation of United Co-operatives by the merger of United Norwest and Yorkshire societies.  We now move on to phase 2, which will see us consolidate our position in the UK’s top 5 pharmacy chains,” he said.

Founded almost 80 years ago in Crewe, the Nantwich-based P. Williams business has grown to cover the Wirral, Cheshire, North Staffordshire and the East Midlands and currently runs 56 pharmacies (nine with in-store photo processing facilities), 3 Photo World outlets, a World of Babies store, as well as a number of business-to-business wholesaling operations.

Commenting on the sale of his family’s business to United Co-operatives, the group’s Managing Director, Steven Williams, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure a deal with a business which shares the P. Williams values and principles.  Like us, United Co-operatives Health Care Group is committed to investing in its people and in its service to patients and I am confident that together we will be able to offer the highest level of customer satisfaction in a professional, caring and ethical environment.”

Hammonds Leeds acted for the Vendors and United Co-operatives was represented by its Legal Department.  Bentley Jennison and Hall Smith Whittingham also advised the vendors.