About us
Our history
Our story began over 70 years ago when pharmacist Ernest Skues founded UniChem, the London based cooperative financed and managed by local independent pharmacists.
Today, Alliance Healthcare has evolved to become one of the UK’s leading pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor, and is a member of Alliance Boots, the leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group.
- 1938 UniChem founded by Ernest Skues
- 1969 Converted to a Friendly Society (Co-Op)
- 1990 Converted to PLC status
- 1991 Retail chain “Moss” acquired
- 1993 -1996 Acquisitions including Eldon Laboratories and UDG
- 1997 Merger with Alliance Santé Group to form Alliance UniChem Plc
- 1999 UniChem Customer Forums established
- 2003 Major Best Practice programme launched in warehouse infrastructure
- 2006 Alliance UniChem Plc merges with Boots Group PLC to form Alliance Boots plc
- 2006 Acquired Cordia, Cardinal Health’s UK short-line business
- 2007 Alliance Boots is acquired by AB Acquisitions Limited
- 2008 Acquired Central Homecare, an established provider of high-tech services to patients requiring management of either simple or complex drug therapies in their own homes
- 2009 UniChem rebranded to become Alliance Healthcare