Whitworth Chemists puts six high-dispensing Blackpool pharmacies up for sale

The family-owned business has decided to sell all 34 pharmacies across the North of England

Whitworth Chemists Limited has instructed the property adviser, Christie & Co, to sell six of its pharmacies in Blackpool, as part of the company’s wider portfolio sale across the North of England.

The pharmacies are located on Kingscote Drive, Charles Street, Whitegate Drive, Bloomfield Road, Waterloo Road, and Common Edge Road.

According to the specialist broker, these are high-dispensing pharmacies, dispensing an average of circa 9,700 items per month.

Some of the accompanying freehold buildings are also up for sale, and interest is invited on a group, subgroup, or individual basis.

Jon Booth, Director – Pharmacy at Christie & Co, who is handling the sale, said: “We are delighted to have been engaged by the family and shareholders of Whitworth Chemists Limited in this exciting project.

“Rarely does a group of this size and quality come to market and be offered for sale on a group, subgroup, or individual pharmacy basis, and we expect significant interest to be generated for the pharmacies,” he added.

John Whitworth first started the pharmacy business in 1967 and, after stepping out of wholesaling, established a new pharmacy chain, Whitworth Chemists Limited in 1999, and since then, the chain remained family-owned.

In total, the family-owned chain has 34 community and health centre pharmacies located across the North of England - nine in Newcastle upon Tyne and Teesside, 10 in Yorkshire and the Humber, five in Greater Manchester and East Lancashire, and 10 in Blackpool and the West Coast.

Across the portfolio, the average dispensing volume is circa 8,500 items per month, with volumes ranging from 3,000 items to 22,000 items.

The decision to sell the business was taken following a strategic review by the family shareholders.

Jay Badenhorst, Managing Director at Whitworth Chemists Limited, and Superintendent Pharmacist, commented, “Whitworth Chemists Limited has built a strong business over the last three decades, delivering a range of quality pharmacy services to a wide patient group across the North of England.

“The business benefits from an amazing, dedicated team delivering first-class pharmacy services daily. However, the time has come for the family shareholders to step back from the business, thereby offering a great opportunity for a new purchaser or purchasers to continue to build on the enviable reputation we have created.”

With its support office in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, the business has centralised services and MHRA-approved warehousing facilities which will also be available for sale, said the property adviser calling it “an opportunity which does not come on the market often.