Until the beginning of the 20th century drugs were essentially prepared by pharmacists in their backrooms. There were virtually no industrials drugs but apothecaries and other unregulated establishments like drug stores or herbalists offered substances for preparation creating a high intruder risk and health hazards.

In Europe the co-op doctrine had acquired great significance since the beginning of the 19th century where a new legal association form known as a co-op appeared with such vitality and rooting that these companies were known and continue to be known as co-ops.

General and Spanish pharmaceutical co-op origins are part of the pharmacists’ demands at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century due to problems posed in view of drug industrialisation and continuous intermediary attacks unrelated to the pharmaceutical profession.

In May 1947 Spanish pharmacists’ co-ops officially created an association for the defence of their professional interests originally known as Pharmacists’ Co-ops Technical Group in the National Industrial Co-op Union. However Acofar (Pharmacists’ Co-op Group) was created on 2nd December 1960, comprising 20 co-ops whose business purpose is so wide it not only aims to be a service for associates but also a financial instrument and intermediary in their operations and render numerous services through different departments: General Secretary, DIC Commercial Initiatives, Publications and Studies. The general policy was always “co-operation is simply proposed not imposed”.

Financial support services for pharmacy professionals were so successful their business turnover led to incorporation of the pharmacists’ bank, Bancofar, currently leader in the pharmaceutical sector, where co-ops and Acofarma still have an important stake. After many efforts and for legal reasons Asociación de Cooperativas Farmacéuticas, S.Coop. Acofarma was created. It was incorporated in El Escorial on 12th May 1972 with approval of the 31 co-ops. The essential business purpose is the supply of the most complete chemical-pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products necessary for optimum pharmacy operation, service rendered through associated co-ops comprising the body, which are currently 32, with over 18000 pharmacies throughout the country.

Acofarma began operations in modest Barcelona premises subsequently in their own premises in the city century and finally a newly built construction also in Barcelona. However, all this was insufficient due to the volume being reach. Thus José María Morera Segalá (e.p.d) director of the Commercial Initiative Department D.I.C., decided to create their own product brand called Acofar and a large factory, which could also be a warehouse, central distribution and manufacturing facility of certain products. The dream of building a factory with the surface and installations demanded by the co-ops was possible due to the purchase of 15,000 square metres in Santa Margarita Polygon in Terrassa (Barcelona). Mr. Morera saw his dream come true of seeing the completed factory but was unable to inaugurate it.

Today Acofarma is a model and reference for the pharmacists’ group union and always a future Project based o non-going renewal to become an even more competitive and profitable organisation with modern installations incorporating the newest and latest IT Technologies, and with the only analysis laboratory authorised and homologated by the Health and Consumer Ministry for quality control of pharmaceutical raw materials.

It has expert professional human capital with first quality products and above all a spirit of co-operation and trust of all the associated co-ops, which make it possible to improve and carry out this passionate entrepreneurial project.