In STADA Czech, we are doing well in managing comprehensive portfolio and seeking synergies

STADA is one of the few players on the Czech market, having a strong position both in OTC and prescription portfolios, supported by the medical device category. This requires a specific approach as we are entering markets, which are significantly different from the customer point of view. Some of our products are most relevant for hospitals. With food supplements, we are focused on consumers and cooperate with pharmacists, growing in e-commerce. This must be reflected in our overall business organization and staff qualifications.

Once the portfolio is of this width, from food supplements via medical devices to prescription medicines, it is necessary to seek for synergies within each segment. When we aim to be a strong partner for hospitals, we need to offer injection forms. If we have e.g. three products in injectable form, we know that the appropriate strategy for us is to be able to offer maybe ten. Similar is the situation with integrating OTC products of similar composition but different indications under one brand. The aim here is to offer the right product to every type of patient with various diseases.

The other viewpoint when it comes to successful comprehensive portfolio management is represented by portfolio acquisitions. We aim to leverage our existing position and seek portfolios which are somehow transitional between OTC and prescription markets. That's why e.g. in food supplements, we not only launch our own new products but also acquire product portfolios which we are able to start producing in our Třinec plant. In simple words, if we identify a food supplement with a relevant market potential, which we currently don't have in our portfolio, we seek a way on how to launch our own variant of such a product or to buy a ready made portfolio.

The major criterion for portfolio acquisitions is the strategic viewpoint, i.e. whether the respective products are in line with our main strategic pillars. The most important for us is that these products are capable of greater growth than they were before becoming part of STADA portfolio. We are able to generate synergies from multiple viewpoints; either the viewpoint of a partner such as hospitals and pharmacies, the viewpoint of a patient (e.g. a sportsman with a given combination of diseases) or the viewpoint of products we are integrating under our brands.

STADA provides its local offices with large autonomy when it comes to creating their own portfolio to grow on the market. In line with our company value Entrepreneurship, also we in the Czech Republic proactively seek opportunities for further growth. How do you approach this topic in your company?