A Dickies Pharmacy outlet in Aberdeen's Waverly Palace was sold for an undisclosed sum to first-time buyers, Christie & Co reports.
The standard hours community pharmacy was previously owned by Brian Arris, who has six other pharmacies in Aberdeen, two in Perth and one in Forfar, all of which trade under Dickies Pharmacy.
He has owned this branch since 2022 and wanted to sell, and it has been purchased by a husband-and-wife team, Yousef and Tatum Al-Obaidi, both pharmacists based in Aberdeen.
Arris claimed this is the third pharmacy he has sold to first-time buyers.
"The biggest overhead in smaller branches is the Pharmacist, so the turnover needs to be above a certain level for group operators to make a go of them. Tatum and Yousef, both being prescribers, together with their enthusiasm and drive to introduce new services, will build the business and make a big success of it.”
Yousef and Tatum Al-Obaidi said, “We had always considered owning our own business for the creative freedom that it brings. This pharmacy was attractive to us as it was in a great location near two excellent GP practices. In the future, we hope to grow the business and utilise more prescribing-led activities.”
Karl Clezy, Director – Pharmacy at Christie & Co, said, “We received a lot of interest in this pharmacy, mainly from first-time buyers, as the business value was more affordable for a Pharmacist to acquire their first business.
"We see this in most towns across Scotland, including in the north of Scotland, where there is always a good demand from first-time buyers. Less expensive pharmacies in smaller towns and more rural locations provide good opportunities for Pharmacists looking for their first acquisition.”
Surrey pharmacy sale
Ewell House Pharmacy was sold to a first-time buyer for an undisclosed sum as the owners wanted to retire.
The 150-year-old community pharmacy located in Ewell village, north of Epsom, was previously owned by Stanislaus and Freda Mandona of Kasmwa Limited.
The new owner, Martin Eguridu, is an independent prescriber and wants to introduce new services at the standard hour pharmacy.
Eguridu said, “I’ve always been interested in pharmacy ownership as it allows me to combine clinical practice with building a business that serves its local community. What attracted me to this pharmacy was its location, its strong foundation, and its 150-year history of serving the community, a great platform to build on.
He said he is keen to develop more clinically focused services, including NHS and private offerings such as prescribing clinics, minor illness care, and travel vaccinations.
"Going forward, my focus is on sustainable growth, improving patient experience, and strengthening the pharmacy’s role as a key healthcare hub within the community,” he added.
Tom Laybourn, Senior Business Agent – Pharmacy at Christie & Co, said, “Ewell House Pharmacy is a stunning pharmacy and epitomises what a traditional community pharmacy looks like. With Martin’s drive and forward‑thinking vision, I’m confident he will elevate the business even further, building on the strong foundations established by Mr and Mrs Mandona."
