Delivering a healthier world

The Group

Based in the UK, Alston Garrard & Co. Ltd was established in 1992 to market and distribute pharmaceutical and associated products from UK and European manufacturers through a network of distributors in Africa, Asia and The Caribbean.

Africa was identified as being a key continent for growth, so in 1999 an associated company was formed in Kenya, Kulal International Ltd, to bring Alston Garrard closer to its market place in East Africa. In 2002, Medipharm Industries (E.A.) Ltd and Medipharm Sales Ltd were added. Based in Kampala, Uganda, Medipharm Industries (E.A.) Ltd provided an East African manufacturing base for paediatric liquids and dry powders together with Oral Rehydration Salts. Medipharm Sales Ltd was responsible for the marketing and distribution of the Alston Garrard agency products. All other countries are handled through independent, but closely allied distributors who are renowned for their local knowledge of the market place in which they operate.

The Group Image

Suppliers & Distributors

Suppliers

From being a predominately UK export house, Alston Garrard now sources pharmaceutical products world-wide.  The major sources being:

  • UK
  • Hungary
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Germany
  • Thailand
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Indonesia
  • Belgium
  • China
  • Israel
  • France
  • Switzerland

Distributors

Each Alston Garrard distributor is personally selected for their market knowledge, importation skills, marketing and merchandising expertise and not least distribution capabilities to all market sectors.  If this combination cannot be found through one exclusive distributor as might be the case for example with a distributor whose business is mainly with hospital products, then a second distributor or third distributor is recruited to ensure that all market sectors are covered adequately to the ultimate benefit of our suppliers.

Alston Garrard is now marketing pharmaceutical and associated products to 29 countries:

  • Ethiopia
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Liberia
  • Malawi
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Nigeria
  • Sierra Leone
  • Mauritius
  • Seychelles
  • Belize
  • Guyana
  • Suriname
  • The Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Jamaica
  • Triidad & Tobago
  • Greece
  • Malta
  • Cyprus
  • Canary Islands
  • Oman
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore

Products

The Alston Garrard Group distributes an extensive range of pharmaceutical products including over-the-counter pharmaceutical products, prescription/ethical pharmaceuticals including generics and branded generics, branded condoms and branded dental products.

Services

To Distributors

Training – Alston Garrard has locally based personnel to support local activities in Ghana, Ethiopia and Jamaica.  This is supplemented by UK and Kenya based personnel as and when necessary.

Regulatory Support – As the maintenance of registration is usually the responsibility of the local distributor, the in-house regulatory department is able to ensure distributors receive formulation and/or packaging updates in the correct format. Alston Garrard will also assist local distributors in the monitoring of the dossier to ensure its relevance to the actual product provided.

Organisation of Local Seminars – Our local representation in various territories means that we are able to organise local seminars in order to make people aware of our suppliers and their products.

Marketing Support – Alston Garrard has over 50 years marketing experience in Africa, Asia and The Caribbean. This expertise is available to all our distributors whether it be in the form of developing marketing plans, training or new product development.  Regular market visits ensure that the relationship between Alston Garrard and the distributor is productive, competitive and beneficial to all parties.

Product Knowledge – Our local representation in various territories means that we are able to provide our distributors with extensive product knowledge from our suppliers.

To Suppliers

Local Information – Our local representation in various territories means that we can provide our suppliers with up to date information on the market environment, competitor activity, sales opportunities and progress of pre-approved marketing plans.

Secure UK Payments – Being a UK based company we can provide our suppliers with secure UK payments.

Marketing Reports – Our in-house marketing department can provide our suppliers with quarterly marketing reports and monthly stock and sales figures for analysis.

Sales Forecasts – Our head office team can provide our suppliers with forecasts of purchase figures which are then passed on to distributors to achieve as targets.

Regulatory Support – Our in-house regulatory department is able to advise and indeed even prepare regulatory dossiers for our suppliers.  These in turn will be lodged with the relevant regulatory bodies and monitored until completion of the process.

Our Facilities

Our 9,950 sq. ft warehouse is conveniently located less than three miles  from London Heathrow Airport.

It holds a Wholesale Distribution Authorisation (WDA), which is issued by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The facilities offered by our warehouse include stockholding, picking, packing and the consolidation of goods from different suppliers in to one consignment.