The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has called in the proposed acquisition of TouchStore Limited by Uniphar plc, highlighting growing scrutiny of transactions that combine physical supply chains with digital infrastructure.
Although announced in January 2026, the deal did not meet the thresholds for mandatory notification under the Competition Act 2002. However, the CCPC exercised its discretionary powers to require a filing after gathering information from the parties and third market participants. Uniphar must now notify the transaction by 17 April 2026, after which the authority will assess its competitive impact.
Uniphar occupies a significant position in Ireland’s pharmaceutical sector as one of only two full-line wholesalers, while also operating retail pharmacies and franchise networks. TouchStore, based in Limerick, supplies dispensing and retail management software used widely by pharmacies across the country. The transaction therefore links a major upstream supplier with a key technology provider embedded in the day-to-day operations of downstream pharmacies.
The CCPC’s intervention suggests concern about how this vertical integration could affect competition. Control over TouchStore’s software may give Uniphar access to commercially sensitive data from pharmacies that rely on the platform, including those that compete with its own retail operations or purchase from rival wholesalers. Beyond data, ownership of a widely used system could influence how pharmacies interact with suppliers, potentially shaping purchasing behaviour or limiting interoperability with competing services.
The outcome of the CCPC’s review will hinge on whether the authority sees a credible risk that the combined entity could restrict competition in pharmaceutical distribution, pharmacy software, or retail pharmacy markets. If concerns arise, the case may test the role of behavioural safeguards in addressing risks linked to data access and platform neutrality.