200 years of experience and entrepreneurship

Our organisation represents over 200 years’ worth of experience in the healthcare industry and entrepreneurship. In 1798, Willem Brocades founded his pharmacy in Meppel. He soon started manufacturing products and preparations for neighbouring pharmacies, and then expanded his range with bandages, plasters and medical tools, so as to respond to every need in the market as best he could. He had a pioneering spirit and was able to envision how the various cares surrounding the matter of healthcare could be taken care of.

Many partnerships and business expansions later, Brocacef Group is now part of the German PHOENIX Group (100% shareholdership). We work with and for pharmacies, hospitals, general practitioners, nursing homes, suppliers, healthcare insurers and private individuals.

1798

Willem Brocades started his own pharmacy in Meppel. This company grew into a pharmaceutical wholesaler.

1970

Gist Brocades merged with Amsterdam Chemie Farmacie (ACF).

1980

From the 1980s onwards, companies were acquired and developed. New activities and the purchase of pharmacies continued.

2002

Since 2002, Brocacef Group has been part of the German PHOENIX Group (55% shareholder).

2010

Since 2010, McKesson Europe AG (formerly Celesio A.G.) has been 45% co-shareholder of Brocacef Group.

2014

In 2014, Brocacef announced the acquisition of Mediq Pharmacies.

2016

Acquisition of Mediq Pharmacies approved.

2019

Brocacef Group acquires 20 pharmacies from Thio Pharma.

2020

BENU is the first Dutch pharmacy chain to offer a complete health check.

2022

PHOENIX Group 100% shareholder of Brocacef Group (October 31, 2022).

2023

  • Brocacef opens sustainable fulfillment center in Amsterdam.

  • BENU takes over 19 Medsen pharmacies and Ceban Compounding acquires the preparation activities of Brocacef Ziekenhuisfarmacie.

Board of Brocacef Group

Board of Brocacef Group

Maximilian Wachter (CEO), Bart Tolhuisen (CFO), Bastiaan Princée (Group Director Wholesale commerce ), 
Paméla Peters (Group Director Omnichannel), Arno Lepoutre (Group Director Operations & logistics), Jordi Gernaert (Group Director ICT & digital).
Organization chart Brocacef Group

Present throughout the whole pharmaceutical chain

Brocacef operates throughout the entire pharmaceutical chain, lending us a unique position in the Dutch pharmaceutical healthcare industry. We are the uncontested market leader in our field.

In the corporate market, we service a large range of healthcare providers, from pharmacies and dispensing general practitioners to hospitals, care homes, and nursing homes, and from pharmaceutical manufacturers to veterinarians.

In the consumer market, we operate across the country, always close to the consumer thanks to our chain of 340 BENU pharmacies. With our BENU brand, we are able to provide consumers with access to pharmaceutical care via multiple channels, via our own pharmacies, partner pharmacies, and BENU Direct. Our range consists of medication, medical bandaging materials and tools, self-care products, dermo-cosmetics, (pharmaceutical) care support and nursing care at home. We also manufacture LIVSANE, our own extensive line of self-care products.

We focus on people and their healthcare needs

There are many different ways to work together to provide clever, personal and accessible care. The Brocacef Group always offers services that will help you get ahead. We look beyond the surface of a prescription of medication and focus on people’s healthcare needs first and foremost; from that starting point, we look at ways to set up the care process optimally so as to best satisfy these needs. We do so via close collaboration with our co-workers within the Brocacef Group and our partners and clients alike. 

Creating growth with comprehensive solutions

European legislation places increasingly stringent requirements on the pharmaceutical industry. Comprehensive solutions are a necessity, while prices remain under constant pressure. In response, PHOENIX GROUP has developed a complete service package, PHOENIX All-in-one.

Our added-value services create growth, increase turnover, reduce costs and optimise processes. This joint approach ensures success for both parties involved.

More information about BHL supply chain services
More information about BHS tailor-made patient support programs

Get in touch with Paul Schuttenbeld

manager business development