First time buyer acquires community pharmacy

Skelton Pharmacy in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, has been sold for an undisclosed sum.

The pharmacy dispenses an average of 8,500 NHS items per month.

It has been owned by group operator, Zulfiqar Rafiq, for the past 11 years, when it was mainly run by locum pharmacists.

The business was brought to market to allow Rafiq to focus on his three other pharmacies in Middlesbrough.

Following a confidential sales process with Karl Clezy at specialist business property adviser Christie & Co, the pharmacy has been purchased by a local first-time buyer who will run it as the owner-pharmacist.

Rafiq said: “I wish the new owner all the best, he is buying a thriving and growing business with excellent staff and loyal patient base.”

Clezy, director – pharmacy at Christie & Co, added: “This pharmacy mainly attracted interest from first-time buyers in the north east area.

“At this affordable price level, there is still a significant amount of active buyers interested in acquiring their first pharmacy.

“We placed the pharmacy on the market in the middle of February this year and we successfully agreed a deal after the first week in March.”