The Lincolnshire Co-op is to join the Company Chemists’ Association on the first of January as the trade body widens the scope of its membership, it has been announced.

The Co-op includes 43 pharmacies in Lincolnshire and bordering counties, as well as operating a wholesale division and a central fill pharmacy that serves more than half its branches and has dispensed over 1.4 million items in 2024.

Alice Hare, head of care at the Co-op, said her organisation has previously worked with the CCA on “specific areas of pharmacy practice” and that joining “feels like the best way for us to continue with our collaboration”.

“The CCA represents multiple pharmacies so is a good fit for us, especially as we look to the future and how we can further invest to grow in pharmacy,” said Ms Hare.

The CCA said the move followed a review of its policy and the approval of changes by its existing members. Whereas before only pharmacy multiples with 100 or more branches could join, membership is now open to “other businesses with operating models and values similar to their own”.

A similar move was made by the rebranded Independent Pharmacies Association earlier this year when it widened the scope of its membership from independent multiples to all independents.

CCA chief executive Malcolm Harrison said: “I am delighted to welcome Lincolnshire Co-op into the CCA.

“The operation and scale of Lincolnshire Co-op means that it is a perfect fit for the CCA. We are very excited to welcome new colleagues into our membership, so that we can share knowledge, experience and skills with each other, for the benefit of patients, the NHS, and the community pharmacy sector.”