PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland strengthens its position in the Swiss public health sector

PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland AG was established in 2021 following a long-standing presence in Switzerland. As part of the German PHOENIX Group, a European leader in healthcare product distribution, PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland AG has grown steadily in recent years by strengthening its presence in the Swiss market for access to medicines, care products, beauty products and diagnostic aids.

Against this backdrop of strong, sustainable growth, PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland AG has decided to relocate its headquarters and those of its entities to Liebefeld (Köniz – BE) in the Canton of Bern as of 1 October 2024.

‘The merger of both our head office and the head offices of four of our companies (PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland AG, Pharmacies BENU AG, Pharmapost AG and health and life AG) in the heart of Switzerland, in Bern, is a highly strategic decision,’ explained Martial Barbier (Managing Director). ‘It will enable us to pool our central administrative resources under one roof, with approximately 100 jobs being consolidated in Bern. It will also support our expansion objectives across Switzerland and facilitate interaction with our partners and customers, all the while offering a number of logistical benefits and a significant bilingual presence.  It also demonstrates our strong commitment to the German-speaking part of the country. ’

The company’s activities span the entire healthcare product access value chain thanks to its various entities.

From product import and distribution with Pharmapost AG (including the Livsane brand), to the BENU pharmacy network present throughout Switzerland with 103 retail outlets, to its 50% stake in avosano AG, which through a joint venture with Voigt operates in pre-wholesale and wholesale activities throughout Switzerland, PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland AG is involved in every single stage of the (health)care product access process. Its business model successfully includes e-commerce managed by health and life AG, which operates three different online shops (mcdroguerie.ch, vitaland.ch and adorelle.ch), serving 300,000 customers in 2023 and attracting two million visitors with AI-driven pricing and recommendations.

About PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland AG

Employing 1,000 members of staff, PHOENIX Pharma Switzerland AG is counted among the leaders in (health)care product access in Switzerland.

The company operates in all stages of production, distribution, pharmaceutical wholesale, promotion and marketing of medicines, OTC products, beauty products and diagnostic aids through its three business sectors:  Retail with the network of 103 BENU pharmacies in Switzerland (900 employees) and e-commerce with health and life. Representative activities with Pharmapost AG, which exclusively distributes the Livsane healthcare brand and a substantial portfolio of other brands. Finally, logistics and supply chain operations, thanks to a 50% stake in avosano AG, a joint venture with Voigt Holding AG that brings together Amedis-UE AG, Voigt AG and Voigt Industrie Service AG. This new entity has a 40% share of the market in pre-wholesale activities and an over 30% share in healthcare wholesale operations.