Day Lewis’s acquisition of an Essex pharmacy chain has expanded its portfolio to more than 250 branches, it has announced.

The company bought the six Newlands pharmacies on April 7, giving Day Lewis a total of 254 branches across the UK, it said on Friday (April 10). Day Lewis CEO Kirit Patel said he was “very proud” to have reached this “significant milestone” one month ahead of the company’s 40th anniversary.

Day Lewis had the acquisition of a further 25 pharmacies “in the pipeline”, and said it was "on track" to complete these over the next three months. The company was “highly optimistic” it would meet its target of owning 400 pharmacies by 2020 and had already secured £35 million from banks this year for acquisitions, Mr Patel said.

With GPs and A&E departments under increasing pressure, Mr Patel said it was of “even more importance” that Day Lewis was able to reach as many communities as possible through its “plans for immediate expansion”.

Newlands Pharmacy owner Vijay Vasu admitted it was “never an easy decision to sell your business”, but stressed he was confident his patients and staff would “be in safe hands” under Day Lewis.
 

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