This year’s SMART Awards in Birmingham recognised the very best in training, marketing and sales support for community pharmacy

Omega Pharma collected an impressive eight awards at this year’s SMART Awards, held last month at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Birmingham, while Johnson & Johnson scooped the coveted title of Best Overall Company.

Among Omega Pharma’s successes on the night were Best Product Launch for Bronchostop, awarded by SMART’s independent judging panel, and Best Overall Brand for Solpadeine, achieved through votes from Pharmacy Magazine and Training Matters readers.

The company also picked up Best Brand Training and Best Company Training, along with two Highly Commended and two Runner-Up awards. Neil Lister, Omega Pharma general manager UK and Ireland, told PM: “We are all about trying to support community pharmacy, especially independent pharmacy, and it is great that we have been recognised for this work tonight.”

 

Top performers

Johnson & Johnson were also celebrating after collecting five awards, including Best Support for Independent Pharmacy, Best Overall Company and Best Overall Brand Runner-Up for Aveeno. J&J head of pharmacy David Mitchell said: “I’m absolutely delighted and particularly pleased to win reader voted awards.”

Other winners included Voltarol (Best Consumer Marketing: large budget); Vamousse (Best Consumer Marketing: small budget) and Durex “Earth Hour” (Best Digital Initiative). Reckitt Benckiser won the award for Best Pharmacy Student Support, while Novartis scooped Best Support for Multiple Pharmacy. Pharmacy Voice came out on top in the Best Public Awareness Initiative category with its Dispensing Health campaign.

 

Pharmacy winners

Barnton Pharmacy in Edinburgh won the Best Independent Community Pharmacy Healthcare Innovation award, sponsored by the NPA, for its groundbreaking work in dementia care, while long-time Numark member, Peter Buckley of Peter Buckley Pharmacy, won the Terry Norris Award for outstanding service to the profession. 

Pharmacy Magazine editor Richard Thomas told guests that this was the 13th year of the SMART Awards, which have been sponsored by Numark since the very beginning. “A strong partnership between community pharmacy and manufacturers is vital in positioning OTC brands as the first line of treatment for common conditions. The SMART Awards is about acknowledging that partnership and celebrating the excellence of the industry’s training, marketing and new product development.”

 

Worthy cause

Over £2,500 was raised on the night for Pharmacist Support, the independent charity working for pharmacists and their families, former pharmacists and pharmacy students to provide help and support in times of need. Chief executive Diane Leicester-Hallam thanked guests for their generous support. “The money raised is really going to benefit the people who use our services.”