EXCLUSIVE

Day Lewis is looking to buy pharmacies in Ireland and Poland within four years, C+D has learned.

Ireland is “most likely the next target area” for the company, which is also considering acquiring a "small foothold" in Poland, CEO Kirit Patel told C+D in an exclusive interview last week (September 10).

Day Lewis has already made an unsuccessful bid for an Irish chain, and hopes it will be successful “next time”, Mr Patel revealed.

The company has plans to increase its 250-strong portfolio to 400 by 2020, and Mr Patel said he is "quietly confident" that the company will reach the target a year earlier than expected. But he said it is “risky...[to] put all our eggs in one basket in one country and one economy”.

Day Lewis’ expertise in managing pharmacies during the UK recession means it will not be “rocket science” to manage pharmacies in Ireland – which has suffered a similar economic downturn – Mr Patel said.

The company will not be managing its overseas acquisitions by itself, and will find local partners to “support... all our expertise”, he added.

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