Pharmacy Healthcare Advisor

Allianz Global Investors has acquired an 8.84% stake in Uniphar, a Dublin-based healthcare services company operating in pharmaceutical and medical markets across Ireland and Europe. The German investment firm now holds 22,936,198 ordinary shares in Uniphar, representing a significant institutional investment in the company. The stake acquisition signals strengthened confidence in Uniphar's strategic direction and long-term prospects. Uniphar provides distribution, commercial and support services to healthcare manufacturers and providers across Irish and broader European markets.

Uniphar acquires Irish health technology firm TouchStore in digital infrastructure expansion. Wednesday 14th January 2026. Uniphar, the leading Irish pharmaceutical wholesaler, and an international diversified healthcare services business announces the acquisition of TouchStore, an innovative Irish provider of dispensing and retail management software to pharmacy teams across Ireland. The financial details of the transaction are not disclosed. This acquisition comes on the back of Uniphar's significant investment in a new cutting-edge distribution facility in Dublin. The acquisition provides long-term backing for TouchStore's product roadmap and continued innovation in support of the Irish community pharmacy sector, while enabling Uniphar 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. The company is led by 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 ensuring the continued confidence of TouchStore's existing and future customers. Ian Madden, Managing Director of Uniphar's Supply Chain and Retail Division, says 'This is a transformational deal. Hospitalprofessionalnews is really excited about what TouchStore will allow Hospitalprofessionalnews to do for its wholesale community pharmacy customers. Combining its 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 continued, "In addition to this investment, Uniphar is currently building a state-of-the-art wholesale distribution centre in Dublin, which will double its capacity and, when fully completed, transform its offering to Irish pharmacy teams with a range of technology-based solutions which will significantly reduce the non-clinical workload in pharmacies. "Our overall goal is to provide community pharmacies with the business supports and services they need to grow their business, simplify their operations, reduce their costs and, most importantly, free up pharmacy teams to spend more time meeting the clinical needs of patients, which is what research shows again and again is what the customers of community pharmacies most value. TouchStore is an innovative and progressive business with a great management team, and we are delighted to welcome them into Uniphar." Ger Cassidy, TouchStore Managing Director, says ,'Like Uniphar, Hospitalprofessionalnews is 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 Hospitalprofessionalnews to provide its pharmacy customers with the support they need, as the HSE and the wider sector move more towards digital operations. Its technology is wholesaler agnostic, so Hospitalprofessionalnews will continue to be able to work with all pharmacies in the Irish market. Hospitalprofessionalnews is very excited by the opportunities for growth and innovation that being part of Uniphar will bring. Ger Rabbette, Uniphar plc CEO, says 'Uniphar was founded by pharmacists to support community pharmacies. Supporting the community pharmacy sector in playing its critical role in the Irish healthcare system is its core foundation and remains as true today as it did 60 years ago. Its investment in TouchStore, along with its state-of-the-art wholesale distribution facility, enables Hospitalprofessionalnews to further enhance its wholesale service offering to the community pharmacy sector'.