Medical Disposables to distribute pharma for Indian company
Published:Sunday | August 8, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Local distributorship Medical Disposables and Supplies Limited (MDS) has inked a deal as co-distributor for an Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing company, Dr Reddy's Laboratories Limited.
MDS will carry the full range of Dr Reddy's prescription drug items for distribution on the local market.
"This new partnership means a great deal to us," said Kurt Boothe, general manager of MDS.
"Dr Reddy's is not only considered among the leading fully integrated pharmaceutical company in India but is among the top 10 generic companies in the United States."
Boothe was tight-lipped on the nature of the contract, which took effect August 1, citing competitive reasons. But he noted that the deal was a timely one, as the company was in expansion mode.
New partnerships
"We are now looking to expand our business, taking on new partnerships and new product range," Kurt said.
Since July, MDS has an extra 2,000 square feet of warehouse and office space to its existing operation at the Dome on Hagley Park Road in Kingston. While Boothe declined to disclosed sales or investment figures, he said the company's product range totals in excess of 1,100 SKUs, or stock-keeping units.
He now plans to grow his staff by one-third.
Dr Reddy is a listed company trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange. Its annual sales are about US$1.6 billion. Its product range includes some 200 branded generic pharmaceuticals.
"Two things we emphasise in our business are image and quality, and so we wanted to partner with another of high quality," Boothe said.
MDS, a family-owned business launched in 2000 by Boothe's mother Myrtis, first started out with the distribution of disposable supplies before expanding into pharmaceuticals. The company later added consumerables such as cosmetics and other household items through local partnerships.
MDS is now a medium-size enterprise, with a plan to grow into a large enterprise within five years.
"I can't quantify the market but we are viewed as a medium-size distribution company competing with both small and large companies," said Boothe.
MDS currently distributes to pharmacies, hospitals, doctors' offices, gas stations, gift shops, stores and other retail outlets.