Alliance Healthcare Portugal

What Alliance Healthcare Portugal does

Alliance Healthcare Portugal is a pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor operating across mainland Portugal, Madeira, and the Azores, serving more than 2,000 pharmacies. The company runs a six-warehouse network totaling 24,355 m² of storage and executes twice-daily deliveries, supported by approximately 430 employees and a customer service operation handling over 4,000 daily interactions. It positions itself as a market leader in Portuguese pharmaceutical distribution and is part of the Walgreens Boots Alliance group via WBA UK Holdco 1 Limited.

The business extends beyond pure logistics into a portfolio of own brands and digital services. Own-brand ranges include Alvita, Alphega, Alcura, AH+FARMA, and AH+DIRECT, alongside the iLink 2.0 ordering platform and the SIH information system. Recent product activity — iLink 2.0 in 2024, AH+DIRECT in March 2025, and AH+HEALTH CONNECT in 2025 — signals a deliberate pivot toward digital channels and pharmacy-adjacent services layered on top of the core distribution franchise.

Revenue is generated through pharmaceutical wholesale margins on distributed SKUs, supplemented by own-brand sales and service fees from platform offerings. The company maintains ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, TAPA, and EFQM certifications, and operates the Alphega independent-pharmacy network in Portugal along with the Skills in Healthcare training program. No revenue figures are disclosed in the available material.

Name

Alliance Healthcare Portugal

Legal name

ALLIANCE HEALTHCARE, S.A.

Website

https://alliance-healthcare.pt

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Distribution

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421), Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42345), Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423450)

SIC

Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122), Wholesale-Medical, Dental & Hospital Equipment & Supplies (5047)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Line Pharmaceutical Wholesalers (HLAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Pharmaceutical Distributors (HLAIAJAB), Medical, Dental & Lab Supply Marketplaces (CRAFAHAG)

Keywords

• Pharmaceutical wholesale distribution
• Pharmacy supply chain
• Pharmaceutical logistics services
• Pharmacy value-added services
• Healthcare product distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Porto

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Wholesale Distribution: Core revenue stream from storing and distributing pharmaceutical products to pharmacies across Portugal. The company delivers twice daily to pharmacies nationwide from its 6 warehouses.
2. Own Brand Products (Alvita): Sale of proprietary healthcare products under the Alvita brand, providing quality alternatives at competitive prices exclusively through pharmacy network.
3. Value-Added Services: Fees from specialized services including AH+DIRECT, logistics solutions, information solutions, and marketing services for pharmaceutical industry clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Alliance Healthcare Portugal is the leading pharmaceutical wholesaler in Portugal, storing and distributing medicines and health products from six warehouses (approximately 24,355 m² total) to more than 2,000 pharmacies across mainland Portugal, Madeira, and the Azores, with twice-daily delivery frequency. Beyond core distribution, it offers value-added logistics, information, and marketing services to pharmaceutical laboratories, own-brand health products (Alvita), a virtual pharmacy network (Alphega), and orthopedic services (Alcura).

Product overview

Alliance Healthcare Portugal operates as a pharmaceutical distribution leader in Portugal, offering a platform-plus-services model centered on wholesale distribution (twice-daily deliveries across 6 warehouses to over 2,000 pharmacies) combined with a portfolio of branded services and own-brand products. The core distribution business is complemented by AH+FARMA (business support service for pharmacy groups), AH+DIRECT (direct sales from stock at 0% fee), and AH+HEALTH CONNECT (compounded medicine transport). For the pharmaceutical industry, iLink 2.0 serves as an information portal for business data sharing, while Skills in Healthcare (SIH) provides marketing, sales, and training solutions. Own-brand health products are offered through Alvita, while pharmacy network services include Alphega (virtual pharmacy network) and Alcura (orthopedic rental/purchase).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alvita: Own-brand health products offering quality alternatives at competitive prices, formulated by pharmacists for pharmacists.
• Alphega
• Alcura
• AH+FARMA
• AH+DIRECT
• iLink 2.0
• Skills in Healthcare (SIH)

Products and services

• Distribuição por Grosso (Wholesale Distribution)

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Alphega Pharmacy NetworkcoreOthersAlphega is a pharmacy network developed by Alliance Healthcare, launched in Portugal in 2019, providing innovative services that generate value for member pharmacies. With approximately 7,500 members across 10 European countries, it is the leading independent pharmacy network in Europe.
• Alcura (Orthopedics)coreOthersAlcura provides orthopedic equipment rental and sale services through the Portuguese pharmacy network, offering a fully integrated solution including dedicated support line, delivery, and assembly.
• AH+FARMA (Purchasing Groups)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with pharmacy purchasing groups through the AH+FARMA service, positioning Alliance Healthcare as a business driver for groups and pharmacies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Alliance Healthcare France: Alliance Healthcare France is another Walgreens Boots Alliance sister entity, operating the same distribution-plus-services model. Strong operational and product portfolio parallel, but serving France rather than Portugal.
• Plural - Cooperativa Farmacêutica: Plural is a Portuguese pharmaceutical cooperative wholesaler serving member pharmacies across the country. Competes with Alliance Healthcare Portugal for pharmacy distribution contracts and offers comparable logistics and value-added services.
• Empifarma: Empifarma is a Portuguese pharmaceutical wholesaler serving pharmacies and pharmaceutical laboratories. A domestic competitor comparable in geographic scope, customer base, and core distribution offering.
• OCP Portugal: OCP is one of the main pharmaceutical wholesalers operating in Portugal, distributing medicines and health products to retail pharmacies nationwide. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to Alliance Healthcare Portugal in full-line pharmaceutical distribution.
• Alliance Healthcare España: Alliance Healthcare Spain is a sister entity within the Walgreens Boots Alliance group, operating the same pharmaceutical distribution and pharmacy services model across Spain. Comparable in business model, customer base, and product/service portfolio, but operating in the Iberian neighbour rather than Portugal itself.
• Alliance Healthcare Germany: Alliance Healthcare Germany is the German sister entity of Alliance Healthcare Portugal under WBA. Identical business model (pharmaceutical wholesaler serving pharmacies with value-added services) but operating in the larger German market.

Broad incumbents

• Celesio (McKesson Europe): Celesio, owned by McKesson, is one of the largest pharmaceutical wholesalers in Europe (Lloyds Pharmacy, SAAR-Pharma, etc.). Comparable as a large diversified pharma-distribution incumbent whose practices shape the European market in which Alliance Healthcare Portugal operates.
• PHOENIX Group: PHOENIX Group is a leading European pharmaceutical distribution and retail conglomerate with operations across multiple countries. Comparable to Alliance Healthcare Portugal as a major full-line wholesaler serving pharmacies across Europe.

Others

• ANF - Associação Nacional das Farmácias: ANF is the Portuguese National Pharmacy Association that organises and represents pharmacies and operates shared services/platforms (including cooperative purchasing). Not a direct competitor, but a key ecosystem participant that shapes the pharmacy-distributor relationship in Portugal.

Regional players

• Mediq: Mediq is a European healthcare distributor and service provider focused on medical devices and homecare. Comparable as a value-added healthcare distributor but operates outside Portugal and focuses on medical devices rather than pharma retail distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AllianceHealthcarePortugal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alliance-healthcare-portugal

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Alliance Healthcare Portugal