Navi Group Enters into Partnership Agreement with French Healthcare Group Hygie31
Hygie31 to take majority stake in Navi, and invest to further strengthen the independent pharmacy sector in Ireland.
Dublin and Toulouse, 10 September 2026:
Navi Group has signed a strategic partnership agreement with French healthcare company Hygie31 under which Hygie31 is acquiring a majority stake in the company.
The partnership will see Hygie31, which is affiliated to over 3,900 independent pharmacies and has a combined turnover of €5.0 billion, bring its scale and expertise into the Irish market and position Navi for further expansion.
Navi Group’s current management team is committed to the business for the long term and will work with Hygie31 to further expand the company both in Ireland and in new markets.
Navi Group currently employs 90 people, and its businesses include the Axium Buying Group, which is the largest buying group for independent pharmacies in Ireland, cloud-based dispensing software DispenSense; electronic point of sale (EPOS) solution TillSense; front-of-shop ordering systems aXel and TouchPlus; and business intelligence software, iGnite.
Together, these systems support the full pharmacy journey, from dispensing and point-of-sale through to business management and healthcare data analytics. Navi has a network of over 100 independent pharmacies through its franchise management services which include the CarePlus and StayWell brands. Navi also operates an international wholesale business in the supply of pharmaceuticals across Europe.
The partnership with Navi Group will also provide Hygie31, which is headquartered in Toulouse and has previously been focused on France, Spain and Italy, with a platform to expand its business further across Europe, particularly the UK.
Navi founder and Chief Executive John Carroll said:
“I am delighted to announce that Navi Group has concluded a strategic partnership agreement with Hygie31. Hygie31 and Navi Group share a common strategic vision of preserving pharmacists’ ownership independence, and strong local roots, while also significantly strengthening their operational competitiveness, with the ambition of making healthcare accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
“This partnership with Hygie31 is about taking the capabilities Navi has built in Ireland and combining them with significant international expertise, investment and best practice to create even greater value for our pharmacy customers. Together with Hygie31, we will continue to grow Navi at home, and we also plan to expand our managed pharmacy services platform into new markets.”
Hervé Jouves, Chairman of Hygie31 Group said:
“This landmark transaction marks a major milestone in Hygie31’s international development. With the integration of Navi Group, Hygie31 is taking a historic step towards building a leading pan-European independent pharmacy group. This agreement also creates a new ‘third way’ for Irish pharmacy: combining independence with European scale.”
“Following our successful expansion in France, Spain and Italy, Ireland represents a highly dynamic market and a natural gateway into the English-speaking world. By combining the strength of our various pharmacy and healthcare offerings in addition to our pharmaceutical supplier agreements and exclusive brands with Navi’s exceptional local footprint and technology platforms, we are offering Irish pharmacists a truly differentiated value proposition. We are particularly proud to partner with John Carroll and his talented team at Navi to build this new growth platform together.”
Founded in 2009 by pharmacist John Carroll, Navi Group has established itself as a market leader and trusted partner of community pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies, and a key player in the transformation of Ireland’s pharmacy landscape.
Navi’s innovative managed services offering supports an established and extensive network of independent pharmacies through a unique combination of group purchasing services, long-standing pharmaceutical manufacturer relationships, proprietary software solutions, advanced data analytics, commercial support services, supply chain capabilities and pharmacy franchise management expertise. This integrated offering helps independent pharmacies enhance performance, improve profitability and deliver exceptional patient care, while retaining their independence and local identity at the heart of community pharmacy.
The partnership between Hygie31 and Navi Group will provide independent pharmacies with greater choice, enhanced value and access to a broader range of products, services and expertise. By combining Hygie31’s scale, international experience and established manufacturer relationships with Navi Group’s deep understanding of the Irish pharmacy market and the evolving needs of independent pharmacy owners, the partnership will create new opportunities to strengthen commercial performance and further enhance the support available to community pharmacies nationwide.
The collaboration will also accelerate innovation across the pharmacy sector. Hygie31’s advanced technology capabilities and pan-European operational expertise can help accelerate the development of Navi Group's digital solutions, streamlining the patient journey and supporting pharmacy profitability through the sharing of best practices from across Europe.
Over time, Navi Group will also explore opportunities to integrate learnings from Hygie31's highly successful Pharmacie Lafayette brand, which has built a leading pharmacy concept centred on affordability, a compelling front-of-shop offering and a strong position as a trusted first point of access to healthcare. These insights will help further strengthen Navi Group's offering to Irish pharmacies and the patients they serve.
Together, Hygie31 and Navi Group are committed to helping independent pharmacies thrive in an increasingly dynamic healthcare environment while delivering even greater value and service to the communities they support.
The partnership with Navi brings Hygie31 into an English-speaking market for the first time, and Hygie31 Chairman Hervé Jouves said that it intends to use the Irish company as a springboard for expansion into the UK and potentially other markets.
“Beyond strengthening and investing in Navi’s long-term offering in the Irish market, this partnership agreement provides Hygie31 with a first-class platform of capabilities, infrastructure and talent. The Group intends to leverage the expertise of John Carroll and his management team to drive organic expansion and identify new external growth opportunities across new markets, particularly the United Kingdom.”
Hygie31 Group, which was founded by its Chairman Hervé Jouves, is a leading European healthcare and independent pharmacy player with almost 530 employees. In recent years, it has moved beyond the French market to expand into Spain and Italy, where it represents a network of 430 and 610 pharmacies respectively.
By partnering with national leaders and independent pharmacist groups, Hygie31 provides them with the commercial, logistics and technological capabilities of a leading European player.
Further information:
Paul O’Kane, Murray, Tel +353 86 6090221 pokane@murraygroup.ie
Navi Group has signed a strategic partnership agreement with French healthcare company Hygie31 under which Hygie31 is acquiring a majority stake in the company.
The partnership will see Hygie31, which is affiliated to over 3,900 independent pharmacies and has a combined turnover of €5.0 billion, bring its scale and expertise into the Irish market and position Navi for further expansion.
Navi Group’s current management team is committed to the business for the long term and will work with Hygie31 to further expand the company both in Ireland and in new markets.
Navi Group currently employs 90 people, and its businesses include the Axium Buying Group, which is the largest buying group for independent pharmacies in Ireland, cloud-based dispensing software DispenSense; electronic point of sale (EPOS) solution TillSense; front-of-shop ordering systems aXel and TouchPlus; and business intelligence software, iGnite.
Together, these systems support the full pharmacy journey, from dispensing and point-of-sale through to business management and healthcare data analytics. Navi has a network of over 100 independent pharmacies through its franchise management services which include the CarePlus and StayWell brands. Navi also operates an international wholesale business in the supply of pharmaceuticals across Europe.
The partnership with Navi Group will also provide Hygie31, which is headquartered in Toulouse and has previously been focused on France, Spain and Italy, with a platform to expand its business further across Europe, particularly the UK.
Navi founder and Chief Executive John Carroll said:
“I am delighted to announce that Navi Group has concluded a strategic partnership agreement with Hygie31. Hygie31 and Navi Group share a common strategic vision of preserving pharmacists’ ownership independence, and strong local roots, while also significantly strengthening their operational competitiveness, with the ambition of making healthcare accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
“This partnership with Hygie31 is about taking the capabilities Navi has built in Ireland and combining them with significant international expertise, investment and best practice to create even greater value for our pharmacy customers. Together with Hygie31, we will continue to grow Navi at home, and we also plan to expand our managed pharmacy services platform into new markets.”
Hervé Jouves, Chairman of Hygie31 Group said:
“This landmark transaction marks a major milestone in Hygie31’s international development. With the integration of Navi Group, Hygie31 is taking a historic step towards building a leading pan-European independent pharmacy group. This agreement also creates a new ‘third way’ for Irish pharmacy: combining independence with European scale.”
“Following our successful expansion in France, Spain and Italy, Ireland represents a highly dynamic market and a natural gateway into the English-speaking world. By combining the strength of our various pharmacy and healthcare offerings in addition to our pharmaceutical supplier agreements and exclusive brands with Navi’s exceptional local footprint and technology platforms, we are offering Irish pharmacists a truly differentiated value proposition. We are particularly proud to partner with John Carroll and his talented team at Navi to build this new growth platform together.”
Founded in 2009 by pharmacist John Carroll, Navi Group has established itself as a market leader and trusted partner of community pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies, and a key player in the transformation of Ireland’s pharmacy landscape.
Navi’s innovative managed services offering supports an established and extensive network of independent pharmacies through a unique combination of group purchasing services, long-standing pharmaceutical manufacturer relationships, proprietary software solutions, advanced data analytics, commercial support services, supply chain capabilities and pharmacy franchise management expertise. This integrated offering helps independent pharmacies enhance performance, improve profitability and deliver exceptional patient care, while retaining their independence and local identity at the heart of community pharmacy.
The partnership between Hygie31 and Navi Group will provide independent pharmacies with greater choice, enhanced value and access to a broader range of products, services and expertise. By combining Hygie31’s scale, international experience and established manufacturer relationships with Navi Group’s deep understanding of the Irish pharmacy market and the evolving needs of independent pharmacy owners, the partnership will create new opportunities to strengthen commercial performance and further enhance the support available to community pharmacies nationwide.
The collaboration will also accelerate innovation across the pharmacy sector. Hygie31’s advanced technology capabilities and pan-European operational expertise can help accelerate the development of Navi Group's digital solutions, streamlining the patient journey and supporting pharmacy profitability through the sharing of best practices from across Europe.
Over time, Navi Group will also explore opportunities to integrate learnings from Hygie31's highly successful Pharmacie Lafayette brand, which has built a leading pharmacy concept centred on affordability, a compelling front-of-shop offering and a strong position as a trusted first point of access to healthcare. These insights will help further strengthen Navi Group's offering to Irish pharmacies and the patients they serve.
Together, Hygie31 and Navi Group are committed to helping independent pharmacies thrive in an increasingly dynamic healthcare environment while delivering even greater value and service to the communities they support.
The partnership with Navi brings Hygie31 into an English-speaking market for the first time, and Hygie31 Chairman Hervé Jouves said that it intends to use the Irish company as a springboard for expansion into the UK and potentially other markets.
“Beyond strengthening and investing in Navi’s long-term offering in the Irish market, this partnership agreement provides Hygie31 with a first-class platform of capabilities, infrastructure and talent. The Group intends to leverage the expertise of John Carroll and his management team to drive organic expansion and identify new external growth opportunities across new markets, particularly the United Kingdom.”
Hygie31 Group, which was founded by its Chairman Hervé Jouves, is a leading European healthcare and independent pharmacy player with almost 530 employees. In recent years, it has moved beyond the French market to expand into Spain and Italy, where it represents a network of 430 and 610 pharmacies respectively.
By partnering with national leaders and independent pharmacist groups, Hygie31 provides them with the commercial, logistics and technological capabilities of a leading European player.
Further information:
Paul O’Kane, Murray, Tel +353 86 6090221 pokane@murraygroup.ie
