Allied Pharmacies takes over 60 Jhoots sites after collapse

Turpin Barker Armstrong partners Martin Armstrong and Andrew Bailey were appointed joint administrators over dozens of Jhoots entities on 6 November, moving swiftly to stabilise one of the most troubled names in England’s community pharmacy sector after months of sudden closures, mounting wage arrears, and growing scrutiny. The appointment cleared the way for a large-scale transfer of operations, with Allied Pharmacies announcing the same week that it had stepped in to take over the management of sixty Jhoots locations across the country.

Allied said most of the newly-acquired branches remain shut for the moment, but the group has committed to restoring essential pharmacy services as quickly as possible. Many of the affected sites sit in the south west, including Somerset and Wiltshire, where local MPs and patient groups had warned of empty shelves, inconsistent staffing, and repeated unplanned closures. The chain had already been selling and remortgaging assets to meet payroll and rent obligations, and it faced enforcement action from the General Pharmaceutical Council prior to entering administration. The crisis drew national attention in October when Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticised the firm in Parliament.

Allied has indicated that it will work to resolve salary arrears for former Jhoots staff while encouraging locum workers with unpaid invoices to contact the administrators. A representative for Manjit Jhooty confirmed that the transaction does not affect 21 pharmacies which he operates under separate corporate entities.