HRA Pharma expands into South Africa with Compeed(R)

Consumer healthcare company HRA Pharma has expanded internationally into South Africa, with the market leading European footcare brand Compeed®. 

HRA Pharma’s South African expansion highlights their dedication to providing high quality products to consumers all over the world.

The strategic decision was made to expand into South Africa following unique market research.

Today, consumer healthcare company HRA Pharma has announced the next stage of their international expansion, with Compeed® now being available in South Africa. HRA Pharma is number one in blister care in Europe and has extensive plans to target markets around the globe. 

From September of last year, Compeed® has been made available for purchase in all major pharmacy chains throughout South Africa offering consumers an attractive assortment of products from across the blister plaster, corn and bunion range. HRA Pharma’s expansion into South Africa highlights their dedication to providing high quality products to consumers all over the world.

After conducting comprehensive and exciting market research, HRA Pharma highlighted a gap in the South African market for Compeed®. The study, which interviewed respondents from 18 to 65 years old, concluded that Compeed® was the preferred brand when compared with other specialist blister plasters, in terms of satisfaction, performance, and relevance. 

In order to bring the Compeed® range to South Africa, HRA Pharma joined forces with FMCG distributor, Brands2Africa. Brands2Africa will be the distributor for the South African market and will provide support when expanding into adjacent markets.

Martina Gripp, Head of Marketing for DACH, Africa and the Middle East, says, “Our research revealed that there is a gap for Compeed®, the leader of specialist blister plasters in Europe, in the South African market. Whilst we will be distributing our products in South Africa first, we’re not stopping there.” 

Craig Clemence, Director of New Business, Operation, Sales, Key Accounts & Marketing of Brands2Africa, says, “We are proud to have partnered with HRA Pharma, and are pleased to offer them support with the distribution of this project. We are looking forward to making Compeed® a success story in South Africa and expand further in the future.”

Martyn Hilton, Chief Global Commercial Officer, says, “Expanding into South Africa is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates HRA Pharma’s commitment in supplying customers with the best quality products all over the world.”

About HRA Pharma:

HRA Pharma are one of the fastest growing consumer healthcare companies in the world and has a strong focus on prescription to over the counter switches. Created in 1996, the objective at the creation of HRA Pharma was to provide innovative solutions to medical needs that had not been addressed previously by large pharmaceutical groups.

Now HRA Pharma are leaders within the market segments they operate in. After growing the brand with new products and markets, they are now number one in emergency contraception, scar and blister care in Europe. 

HRA Pharma aim to more than double in size by 2022 by using a combination of swift switching, new products, geographic expansion and smart acquisitions. Currently, HRA Pharma has direct operational presence in 11 European countries and partnerships that have extended its products' availability to over 90 countries worldwide.