Hygie31 press release – 1st January 2024
Hygie31 Group, a benchmark player in the healthcare sector, announces a strategic partnership with the Magdaléon consortium of pharmacies
This alliance with Magdaléon, which follows on from five key transactions already completed in the healthcare sector since 2021, is totally in keeping with Hygie31 Group's development strategy. The aim is to bring new networks of local pharmacies into the Group "echosystem", which boast a strong regional foothold and geographical complementarity. As such, this partnership boosts Hygie31's presence on the local pharmacy market in the East of France and, at the same time, strengthens its position with laboratories.
With combined turnover of 2.4 billion euro end 2023, Hygie31 Group secures its position as a key healthcare player by managing over 1,200 points of sale in Europe, which includes pharmacies, over-the-counter pharmacy, healthcare & beauty product stores, eyewear & optical product stores and medical equipment stores. This consolidation confirms the vision championed by the Group since 2016: ensure pharmacies become the first healthcare point of contact.
The Magdaléon consortium of pharmacies, founded in 2020 by Jean-Marc Gauche, Constant Kuder and Christian Zimmermann, currently totals over 100 pharmacies mainly spread across the Grand Est region of France, and generates cumulated turnover of 250 million euro. Magdaléon's ongoing growth since it was created 3 years ago illustrates its members' trust and its strong community spirit.
This alliance enables Magdaléon to boost its relationships with partner laboratories, generic manufacturers and distributors and, as such, strengthens affiliate pharmacists' profitability. Pharmacists will also have access to an extensive range of in-house brands (over 100 references in 6 categories), which comprises innovative, premium-quality products at highly-competitive prices. At the same time, licensed pharmacists will benefit from new technological and digital services, bespoke support via new tools for day-to-day management and a more extensive training programme. Last but not least, this alliance aims to bolster Magdaléon network pharmacists' presence in the medical equipment and home care service segment, thanks to privileged access to references distributed by Distrimed, a company acquired by Hygie31 Group in December 2023.
"Following on from the success of the alliances with Pharmacorp (520 traditional local pharmacies), Pharmacyal (135 pharmacies in the Hauts-de-France region), this transaction with Magdaléon marks a decisive step forward in Hygie31 Group's development policy, while ensuring each network's identity and particularity remain secure. Our approach aims to strengthen the market by supporting regional initiatives to ensure optimal access to healthcare, irrespective of where pharmacies are located (urban, suburban, rural, neighbourhood)" states Hervé Jouves, Hygie31 CEO.
Jean Marc Gauche, Magdaléon Co-founder, adds "By joining Hygie 31 Group, Magdaléon will enable its members to rapidly benefit from highly efficient services: in-house brands, support for points of sale, central procurement platform, which should optimize their performance. For my part, I will continue to be attentive to make sure our members' interests and our initial commitments to virtuousness and transparency are upheld"
"Magdaléon's destiny is set to forge ahead with support from Hygie31 Group. I'm delighted with this change, which secures our Company's future in an ever-more demanding climate. Thanks to everyone's involvement and the mutual trust we have in each other, we're going to optimize and strengthen our agreements with laboratories, as well as the services we offer our current-day and future members, while building closer relationships with them. Our ambition will always be to serve them and to support them as effectively as possible", pursues Constant Kuder, Magdaléon Managing Director.
"I'm delighted to announce that three years after its creation, Magdaléon is going to continue to grow with Hygie31's help. This will enable us to be more efficient, stronger, to ensure our pharmacies prosper while, at the same time, pursuing an ethical approach, based on our expertise and trust as pharmacists." concludes Christian Zimmermann, Magdaléon Co-founder.
About Magdaléon
Magdaléon, founded by Jean-Marc Gauche, Christian Zimmermann and Constant Kuder in Strasbourg in 2020, is a consortium of dispensing pharmacies that brings together over 100 pharmacists. The network, which is mainly established in the Grand Est region of France, generates cumulated annual turnover of 250 million euro.