> SEMPORA Market Survey: The UK Pharmacy Market 2010/2011
"Widespread scepticism about the impact of NHS reforms, price and margin pressure, whilst the online pharmacy channel is poised for growth"
The survey found that most pharmacists (75%) and OTC manufacturers (64%), although concerned by a range of different market challenges, agree that NHS reforms present the biggest market challenge in their sector. The results are based on the detailed responses of samples of UK consumers, pharmacists in England and executives of leading UK OTC companies.
> SEMPORA Study: UK VAT increase January 2010 - Negative effects anticipated by retailers and consumers
Industry snapshot indicates how return to 17.5% standard rate VAT will affect retailers, producers and consumers.
UK consumers could face a double hit when VAT goes back up to 17.5% on 1st January 2010. According to a recent study by SEMPORA Consulting , London, around a third of retailers are looking at using the opportunity to make additional price increases on top of the VAT increase. There is some comfort for shoppers - while 50% of retailers intend to pass on at least the full amount of the VAT increase, 21% said they were planning to pass on only part of the additional cost and 29% indicated that they would hold prices at current levels. As a result, the VAT increase is also likely to put extra pressure on company profits and trading relationships between suppliers and retailers.
As part of this study, SEMPORA surveyed 129 consumers as well as 108 senior managers at leading companies in retailing and manufacturing.
> SEMPORA Market Survey: The UK pharmacy market 2008
"Tougher competition in the UK pharmacy market will lead to the loss of another 1,200 pharmacies in the next five years"
The strong growth of retail chain and supermarket pharmacies along with recent changes to the Pharmacy Contract, new POM-to-P switches, increasing numbers of generic and retail own label products and falling retail prices for OTC medicines, make the UK an increasingly tough market, according to a survey conducted by the management consultancy SEMPORA Consulting. Current market conditions and future developments are increasing pressure on pharmaceutical companies and UK retail pharmacies to overhaul their strategies for marketing, sales, product portfolios and pricing.