What UbiPharm does

UbiPharm is a privately held, pan-African pharmaceutical supply chain group headquartered in Le Grand-Quevilly, France, operating across 14 African countries and 4 French overseas departments (DROM). It integrates five business lines: wholesaler-distributor (18 local entities serving pharmacy customers), export distributor (PlanetPharma platform serving 100+ laboratories for distribution to 24 African countries), logistics provider (cold chain, traceability, stock management), pharmaceutical promoter (around 30 agencies and 400 delegates implanting and developing sales of laboratory products), and pharmaceutical depositary. Its underlying technology stack includes SAP-based ERP systems, an automated Transstockeur storage and retrieval warehouse in Le Grand-Quevilly, ZEBRA radio-terminal delivery tracking with photo capture of signed delivery notes, the NOW digital customer platform, Orange Money mobile payment integration (first pharmaceutical wholesaler to deploy in Guinea), and the UbiPharm extranet with a digital parapharmacy catalog. The Group operates a unique cooperative ownership model in which 100% of its wholesaler entities are owned by approximately 4,000 pharmacist-client-shareholders, aligning customer relationships with equity ownership.

UbiPharm generates revenue across four streams: wholesale distribution margins from pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products (transaction-fee model), professional services fees from pharmaceutical promotion via its delegate network, managed logistics services (cold chain, storage, traceability for PlanetPharma's laboratory clients), and export distribution fees. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales to pharmacy owners through the 18 subsidiary entities, channel partnerships (notably the 2022 strategic alliance with Imperial Logistics extending reach to 40+ African countries across francophone, anglophone and lusophone markets), a 30-agency / 400-delegate sales-led promotion layer, and event-driven engagement including the annual "In Good Hands by UbiPharm" flagship conference. The Group employs 1,700-2,000+ collaborators across 38 companies and reports €882 million in revenue for 2020, the most recent disclosed figure.

UbiPharm's competitive position rests on its 35-year operating history, multi-jurisdiction regulatory expertise, the structural loyalty of its pharmacist-shareholder network, and the scale of its promotion and logistics infrastructure, all of which create high barriers to entry in francophone African pharmaceutical distribution. Recent strategic moves include the 2022 Imperial alliance, the 2022 launch of PromoNova for digital promotion services, sustained leadership rotations and HEC Paris executive certification across 2023-2026, and physical capacity expansion (12-hectare land acquisition and new headquarters under construction in Guinea, 2025-2026). No funding rounds were disclosed in the source data other than a single 2015 capital raise of approximately $4.5M led by PCM Capital Partners.

Name

UbiPharm

Legal name

UBIPHARM SA

Website

https://ubipharm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

UbiPharm is a privately held pan-African pharmaceutical supply chain group headquartered in France, integrating wholesale distribution, export logistics, promotion, and depositary services across 14 African countries and 4 French overseas departments through 38 companies owned by approximately 4,000 pharmacist-client-shareholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210)

SIC

Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Line Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (HLAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors (HLAIAJAB), Specialty Pharmacy & Biologics Distribution (CRAOAHAD), Specialty Pharma & Biologics Distribution (GDP-compliant) (HLAGAMAD), Pharmacy Logistics, Returns, Reverse Distribution & Compliance Services (CRAOAHAJ)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical wholesale distribution
• Pharmaceutical logistics
• Pharmaceutical promotion services
• Pharmaceutical supply chain
• Cold chain distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Grand-quevilly

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Distribution: Revenue from distributing pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products to pharmacies. The company operates as a wholesaler-distributor, intermediary between laboratories and retail pharmacies, managing the full distribution chain from order taking to final delivery
2. Pharmaceutical Promotion: Revenue from promotional services provided to pharmaceutical laboratories through a network of approximately 400 delegates across 30 agencies, implanting and developing sales of products on behalf of laboratories
3. Logistics Services: Revenue from specialized pharmaceutical logistics including cold chain management, traceability, and storage services. PlanetPharma serves over 100 laboratories from its French platform for distribution to 24 African countries
4. Export Distribution: Revenue from bulk export distribution services for laboratories seeking to reach African markets, leveraging PlanetPharma's regulatory expertise and distribution network

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UbiPharm is a pan-African pharmaceutical supply chain group operating five integrated business lines: wholesaler-distributor, export distributor, logistics provider, pharmaceutical promotion, and depositary. The group distributes pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products from laboratories to approximately 4,000 pharmacy customers across 14 African countries and 4 French overseas departments, supported by a cooperative ownership model in which pharmacy owners are also shareholders.

Product overview

UbiPharm is a pan-African pharmaceutical supply chain group integrating five core business lines: wholesaler-distributor, export distributor, logistics provider, pharmaceutical promoter (with approximately 30 agencies and 400 pharmaceutical representatives), and pharmaceutical depot operator. The group operates across 13 African countries and 4 French overseas territories through 38 subsidiary companies, with a unique model of over 1,800 pharmacist-client-shareholders. Key products include PlanetPharma (the Group's export wholesale distribution and logistics platform serving 100+ laboratories), the NOW digital platform for integrated supply chain access, PromoNova for digital-enhanced pharmaceutical promotion, and specialized subsidiaries Gesca (audit), D.T. Pharma (DROM supply flows), DII (IT development), and AuditPharma (lean management). The group also operates customer and shareholder portals including pharmacist extranet and digital parapharmacy catalogs. The Fondation UbiPharm conducts CSR initiatives in health, education, research, and water access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PlanetPharma: Export wholesale distribution platform of the UbiPharm Group, based in France.
• PromoNova
• UbiGen
• Labell
• NOW

Products and services

• Wholesale Distribution (Grossiste-Répartiteur)
• Export Distribution (PlanetPharma)
• Pharmaceutical Logistics Services
• Pharmaceutical Promotion Services (PromoNova)
• Depositary Services
• NOW Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving 4,000+ pharmacist-client shareholders across 18 distribution entities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• HEC PariscoreOthers · 14 April 2025Executive certification program in Strategic Management and Innovative Leadership. 18 UbiPharm executives certified in March 2026. Partnership supports leadership development and organizational capability building.
• Imperial LogisticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2022Strategic alliance creating one of Africa's largest health distribution networks. Enables coverage in 40+ African countries across francophone, anglophone, and lusophone markets. Combines UbiPharm's strength in francophone Africa with Imperial's anglophone and lusophone presence. All activities essential to medicine availability—manufacturing, regulatory affairs, promotion, and distribution—are accessible through the combined network. Both companies retain autonomy while pursuing shared objectives of improving patient access to quality medicines, vaccines, and pharmaceutical products.
• Orange MoneycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Mobile payment integration enabling automated and secure merchant payments for pharmacists in Guinea. UbiPharm Guinea was first pharmaceutical wholesaler in the country to offer mobile payment. Replaces manual processing with automated, traceable transactions.
• UPSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partnership for pharmacist education. UbiPharm Congo organized training session in partnership with UPSA laboratory, bringing together 42 pharmacists for professional development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Zuellig Pharma: Zuellig Pharma is one of the largest healthcare distribution groups in Asia, operating across multiple Asian markets with pharmaceutical distribution, clinical trial, and patient-centric services. While geographically distinct, its integrated pharma distribution and laboratory services model is closely analogous to UbiPharm's pan-African network.

Broad incumbents

• Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding:
• McKesson Corporation: McKesson is the world's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor, serving pharmacies, hospitals, and pharma manufacturers globally. While primarily North America-focused, McKesson has been expanding international distribution capabilities, making it a relevant broad incumbent comparable to UbiPharm in pharma distribution scale and end-customer base.
• Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen): Cencora is one of the largest global pharmaceutical solutions organizations, distributing pharmaceuticals and providing related services to pharmacies, hospitals, and manufacturers. Its global distribution network and manufacturer services are analogous to UbiPharm's wholesaler-distributor and laboratory promotion businesses.
• Sinopharm: Sinopharm is a Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical and healthcare distribution conglomerate operating globally, including emerging markets in Africa. Its integrated pharmaceutical manufacturing, distribution, and cold-chain logistics capabilities make it a broad incumbent comparable in scale and end-to-end model to UbiPharm.
• PHOENIX Group: PHOENIX Group is the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in Europe, operating across 29 countries with a fully integrated pharma distribution and retail pharmacy network. Comparable to UbiPharm in integrated pharmaceutical distribution, retail pharmacy services, and manufacturer relationships across multiple European geographies.
• Alliance Healthcare (Walgreens Boots Alliance): Alliance Healthcare is the pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution arm of Walgreens Boots Alliance, operating across Europe with distribution, pharmacy, and manufacturer services. Comparable to UbiPharm in pharmaceutical distribution, retail pharmacy supply, and manufacturer partnership model.

Direct peers

• Imperial Logistics (DP World): Imperial Logistics is UbiPharm's 2022 strategic alliance partner and a major African logistics and distribution operator, now part of DP World. Directly comparable because of its existing African pharmaceutical distribution presence — particularly in anglophone and lusophone markets — that complements UbiPharm's francophone footprint.

Others

• Cardinal Health: Cardinal Health is a major US-headquartered pharmaceutical and medical product distributor serving retail pharmacies, hospitals, and healthcare manufacturers. Comparable to UbiPharm in pharmaceutical wholesale distribution model and customer base (retail pharmacies and laboratories).

Emerging players

• Aspen Pharmacare: Aspen Pharmacare is Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer with a significant presence across the continent. While primarily a manufacturer, Aspen's pan-African distribution and product reach make it an emerging peer with overlapping African pharmaceutical supply chain activities to UbiPharm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ubipharmgroupe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries25 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UbiPharm