The multiple announced in February that it had put 70 of its branches up for sale to focus on a “slightly smaller pharmacy network”.

However, 12 of these have since been withdrawn from the market and brought “fully back into the business”, Rowlands told C+D last week (July 11).

The multiple has “determined they are more valuable” as part of its “exciting transformation plans”, it explained. However, it declined to reveal what these plans entail.

The 12 Rowlands branches no longer for sale are located in: Bromborough, Whitchurch, Prestbury, Sowerby Bridge, Birkenhead, Liverpool (Great Homer Street and Myrtle Street), Darlington, South Elmsall, Leigh-on-Sea, Islington and Peterborough.

Sales of other branches to continue

Rowlands is still planning to sell the remaining 58 pharmacies, it said.

Interest in the branches has been “very positive”, and the multiple has “received many offers that are now progressing to exchange”, it added.

Rowlands is confident the pharmacies “have the potential for future growth” and the change of ownership will “bring new ideas about how they will meet emerging local healthcare needs”.

The sale of these branches is being overseen by specialist brokers Christie & Co, and the location of each can be found on the map below. Branches for sale are in blue, and those taken off the market are in orange.