Well’s five-year strategy will involve “occasional closures” of Co-operative pharmacies, the business has said as it announced it would shut a branch in Cheshire.

Bestway, which bought the Co-operative Pharmacy business for £620 million last summer, said in February that it would "renovate and relocate" existing branches under the Well brand.

The multiple confirmed to C+D last week (June 11) that this would involve closing some branches, including a pharmacy on Nantwich High Street that will cease trading on August 29.

Well business development and portfolio director Christian Logue said this decision was part of its strategy to “reshape” the business through “a combination of relocations, acquisitions, re-fitting, new openings and occasional branch closures”.

Well did not disclose to C+D how many other branches it planned to close.

The company was “proud of the service we offer throughout the Nantwich community” and it was “investing in nearby branches”, Mr Logue said. “Our other local branches will offer the same expert service and advice that they have come to expect on a day-to-day basis from Well,” he said.

Well had spoken to all the employees at the branch and would “continue to support them through the consultation process”, he said. It also wanted to reassure customers in the area that it would continue to support their health and wellbeing needs, he added.

Bestway told C+D in December that it planned to expand its portfolio of 782 Co-operative pharmacies, and announced its acquisition of a seven-branch Devon pharmacy chain in March.

Do you know about any other Co-operative Pharmacy branch closures? 

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