Otto Geilenkirchen

Name

Otto Geilenkirchen

Legal name

Otto Geilenkirchen GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://otto-geilenkirchen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Line Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (HLAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors (HLAIAJAB), Retail Pharmacy Supply Wholesalers (HLAIAJAE)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical wholesale
• Pharmacy supply
• Pharmaceutical distribution
• Pharmacy cooperation
• Continuing education pharmacies

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical wholesale distribution: Distribution of pharmaceutical products and health products to pharmacies. Revenue generated through margin on product sales with multiple daily deliveries ensuring continuous supply. Core business serving approximately 500 pharmacies in western North Rhine-Westphalia.
2. WAVE cooperation services: Services offered through the WAVE pharmacy cooperation brand including marketing support, business consulting, training, and exclusive purchasing benefits for member pharmacies.
3. Seminar and training programs: Continuing education programs for pharmacy teams, accredited by the State Pharmacists Chamber, offered both online and in-person.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Otto Geilenkirchen is a family-owned pharmaceutical wholesaler that distributes medications and health products to approximately 500 independent pharmacies in western North Rhine-Westphalia, operating from a fully automated warehouse in Mönchengladbach with up to 120km delivery radius and multiple daily deliveries. Beyond core wholesale distribution of approximately 80,000 immediately available articles plus 20,000 order items, the company offers the WAVE pharmacy cooperation system (under PHARMA PRIVAT) providing marketing, digital, business, and purchasing benefits to member pharmacies, along with accredited continuing education seminars and the annual PTA des Jahres competition.

Product overview

Otto Geilenkirchen operates as a full-range pharmaceutical wholesaler offering core wholesale distribution services supplemented by the WAVE pharmacy cooperation system. The portfolio includes the proprietary WAVE App for pharmacy customer engagement, professional seminars and continuing education through WAVE Campus, and the annual PTA des Jahres competition and regional events. The Kundenportal (customer portal) provides protected access for pharmacy customers. The company positions WAVE as a modular concept where pharmacies can customize their cooperation intensity while maintaining independence, with benefits including purchasing advantages, marketing support, and process optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WAVE: Apothekenkooperationskonzept (pharmacy cooperation system) operated by A-plus Service GmbH. A brand offering pharmacy cooperation with services in Digital, Business, Continuing Education and Marketing areas.

Products and services

• Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution Full-range pharmaceutical wholesale service supplying independent pharmacies with medications, veterinary medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and health products multiple times daily. Operates from Mönchengladbach (main warehouse with 75,000+ storage positions and 120,000-package automated storage/retrieval system) with up to 120 km delivery radius and Saturday service.
• WAVE Pharmacy Cooperation System A modular pharmacy cooperation concept under PHARMA PRIVAT (operated by A-plus Service GmbH) that enables independent pharmacies to collaborate while preserving their own identity. Provides purchasing advantages, marketing support, business consulting, and process optimization across Digital, Business, Continuing Education, and Marketing service pillars.
• Kundenportal (Customer Portal)

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of packages processed through automated picking systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PHARMA PRIVATcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1984PHARMA PRIVAT is a cooperative of owner-operated pharmaceutical wholesalers founded in 1984. Otto Geilenkirchen is one of six member companies serving approximately 3,500 independent pharmacies across Germany. The cooperation provides purchasing power, marketing support, and shared services including the WAVE pharmacy cooperation system.
• PHAGRO (Bundesverband des pharmazeutischen Großhandels e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHAGRO is the Federal Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesale, uniting all eight full-service pharmaceutical wholesalers in Germany with over 100 locations. Otto Geilenkirchen and all PHARMA PRIVAT members belong to this association representing common interests to parliament, government, and other organizations.
• A-plus Service GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA-plus Service GmbH operates the WAVE pharmacy cooperation system. As a WAVE member brand, Otto Geilenkirchen offers this partnership model to pharmacies providing digital services, marketing, business support, and purchasing benefits.
• IHK AachenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChamber of Industry and Commerce partnership for vocational training. Otto Geilenkirchen participates in IHK-certified apprenticeship programs.
• IHK Mittlerer NiederrheinminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChamber of Industry and Commerce partnership for vocational training at Mönchengladbach location.
• digitalHUB AachenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital innovation hub in Aachen supporting digital transformation initiatives. Otto Geilenkirchen participates as member to stay connected with digital innovation ecosystem.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alliance Healthcare (Walgreens Boots Alliance): Major German pharmaceutical wholesaler and part of Walgreens Boots Alliance's European distribution network. Operates full-line wholesale plus pre-wholesale and pharmacy retail support, overlapping significantly with Otto Geilenkirchen's service portfolio.
• GEHE Pharma Handel: German pharmaceutical wholesaler owned by McKesson, serving retail pharmacies nationwide. Comparable full-line distribution model with additional pharmacy services and marketing support, but at significantly larger national scale.
• Sanacorp: One of the largest German pharmaceutical wholesalers, cooperative-owned, distributing full pharmaceutical ranges nationwide. Comparable business model and product breadth, but at materially greater scale and national footprint.
• Phoenix Group: Pan-European pharmaceutical distribution leader headquartered in Germany and the largest pharma wholesaler in the country. Competes head-to-head with Otto Geilenkirchen for independent pharmacy accounts and supplier relationships, but with vastly broader scale.

Emerging players

• A-plus Service GmbH (WAVE): Operating company behind the WAVE pharmacy cooperation and WAVE Campus e-learning platform that Otto Geilenkirchen offers to member pharmacies. Closely tied partnership and comparable in delivering digital, marketing, and education services to independent pharmacies.

Direct peers

• Ebert + Jacobi: Independent German pharmaceutical wholesaler in Baden-Württemberg, also member of a cooperative network. Closest comparable in scale, regional focus, and family-owned / cooperative positioning to Otto Geilenkirchen.
• Noweda: German cooperative pharmaceutical wholesaler serving ~9,000 member pharmacies across Germany. Comparable as a member-owned wholesaler with pharmacy cooperative structure (analogous to PHARMA PRIVAT) and similar full-line distribution model.

Regional players

• F. Reichelt: Mid-sized regional pharmaceutical wholesaler in northern Germany. Similar full-line distribution and pharmacy service model, but serving a non-overlapping geography from Otto Geilenkirchen's western NRW territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OttoGeilenkirchen/?locale=de_DE
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/otto-geilenkirchen-gmbh-&-co-kg

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Otto Geilenkirchen