AAH is a pharmaceutical wholesaler in the United Kingdom. Originally formed in 1892 as a company selling solid fuels in South Wales, it was floated on the stock exchange in 1923. It diversified into pharmaceuticals in the 1970s, and since 1995 it has been a subsidiary of the German company Celesio AG.
History
AAH originated in 1892, when Cleeves Company was formed in Wales, owning about 7,000 acres of land. It merged with two local companies, Gurnos and Gellveeidrim, to form Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Limited. The Chairman of the company was Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett, and it was floated on the Stock Exchange on 29 June 1923, having been registered as a public company on 16 June 1923. The registered office was 29/30 King Street, Cheapside, London. Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Limited held its first company meeting on 5 September 1923 at the Cannon Street Hotel. From mid-1925 to at least the end of 1926, all coal mining activities in the England had ceased, resulting in major financial problems for the industry. This was a driving force behind the eventual merger with United Anthracite Collieries Limited. On 1 July 1927, the company merged with United to become known as A.A.C Anthracite, based at 120 Fenchurch Street. AAH's original business was producing and distributing anthracite and other solid fuels across South Wales. The company later diversified its interests in different markets including health services, building materials, transport, warehousing and environmental services. In 1954, it was agreed to change the company name to Amalgamated Anthracite Holdings Limited. In early 1971 the company abbreviated its name to AAH Limited. In 1976, AAH sold off its interests in fuel and building materials. Healthcare services became the company's main business activity. AAH expanded its pharmaceutical interest by taking over a large number of businesses including Chemists Holding and Hills Pharmaceuticals. AAH Limited became a constituent company of AAH Holdings in 1981, based in London. In 1985 the headquarters of AAH Holdings plc moved to the south of Lincoln. By the late 1980s, when based in Lincoln, the holding company was turning over, though the turnover for the pharmaceutical section was only in the range of. In 1985 AAH acquired pharmaceutical wholesaler Vestric Limited from Glaxo P.L.C., which continued the company's growth and led to the formation of AAH Pharmaceuticals Limited. In 1991, AAH arranged to distribute drugs marketed by ICI to hospitals in Britain, while ICI retained distribution logistics to pharmacies in the country. By 1994, the company's headquarters had relocated to Runcorn in Cheshire, where it employed 3200 people. The company was bought by Celesio AG in 1995. In 1999 the headquarters moved to Coventry, where it remains as of 2012. In 2003, the company was among several which were accused by the MHRA of "breaches of trust" involving the offering "benefits to pharmacists in return for buying medicinal products from certain suppliers;" AAH, and the other firms, terminated the offending schemes following the accusations. In 2005, the company implemented supply chain and customer relationship management software provided by Cyclone Commerce.
Branches
The AAH group has several branches. The Enterprise branch sells health and beauty products to over 5000 independent pharmacies in the UK. The Trident branch is a shortline supplier to independent pharmacies in the UK. Wilkinson Healthcare provides independent pharmacies with surgical services. Dextrous provides logistical services to manufacturers.
Operations
The head office is situated off the A4600 south of junction 2 of the M6 in the north of Coventry on the Coventry Walsgrave Triangle. It has 19 depots around the UK including locations in Belfast, Glasgow, and Sussex. AAH is among those companies that worked for many years without a management-endorsed mission statement. By the 2000s, management had composed and published a mission statement that began "We are the UK's leading distributor or pharmaceutical and healthcare products and services to pharmacies, hospitals, and doctors."
