Alliance Boots acquires healthcare logistics firm UDG

Pharmaceutical giant Alliance Boots has taken full ownership of Derbyshire-based healthcare logistics firm UniDrug Distribution Group (UDG).

Alliance Boots, which owned half of the contract logistics firm, acquired the remaining shares from UDG Healthcare for £66m in August.

The operator, which runs 56 vehicles and employs 750 people, is to be rebranded as Alloga.  UDG is currently part of the Alloga pan-European pharmaceutical distribution network, which was formed as a joint venture between Swiss healthcare firm Galenica and Alliance Boots in 2000.

Ornella Barra, chief executive, Wholesale and Brands at Alliance Boots, said: “Acquiring full ownership of this successful joint venture will enable us to provide our UK pharmaceutical customers with a broader and more integrated range of flexible pre-wholesaling and contract logistics solutions, while further building on our investment in the Alloga network across Europe.”

UDG provides transport and ambient, refrigerated, cryogenic and high security storage for the pharmaceutical, healthcare and veterinary industries.