Vivian Corporation, a leading importer of pharmaceuticals, foods, toiletries, cosmetics and baby care products, is this year celebrating its 60th anniversary, and managing director Lawrence Gatt is optimistic about the future growth of the company.

“Our plans for our 60th anniversary is to get better at what we do best. The company already has a very healthy mix in the different fields and we plan to further specialise in these fields.

“Having said that, we recently opened Thirty Six, a retail outlet at The Point, selling branded fashion for kids. We are also successful in the catering trade where we supply leading restaurants and hotels,” he says.

Mr Gatt says that in the field of health care, Vivian Corporation is the third largest supplier to the Central Procurement and Supplies Unit and his objective is to become the second and then the largest supplier, “one step at a time”.

He says the company believes in the total accessibility of the right medicine to the patient that needs it and therefore it is important that prices do not make medicinals inaccessible.

“With this in mind we supply high value products with a modest mark up from our end as well as high quality low-cost generics.”

He points out that the public at large must also appreciate the high level of quality assurance that is involved in the marketing, distribution and storage of pharmaceuticals “but to us this is not a cost but an investment that ensures the safety of the people that use our products”.

Mr Gatt explains how the company was first set up.

“It was my father, Wilfred Gatt, who founded the business in 1952. He was a young and enthusiastic pharmacist or chemist as they were known then.

“Whilst he was working at one of his two pharmacies, a German gentleman entered the pharmacy requesting a particular medicine which was not available locally. Very sure of himself he told him he will get the medicine for him and that’s how the importation of pharmaceuticals began.

“He started contacting pharmaceutical companies to obtain exclusive distributorship. He must have been one of the first medical representatives in Malta.”

Mr Gatt says that Vivian Corporation has four divisions: health care, baby care and infant nutrition, cosmetics and toiletries and health and general foods.

“We are successful because we celebrate life!” he says proudly. “We make sure that all products we market improve the quality of life of the Maltese and Gozitans. From pharmaceuticals that save lives, medical laboratory equipment that diagnose conditions to be able to treat effectively, to baby food, for us ‘celebrate life’ is not only a slogan but a commitment.

“On top of that we work passionately and hard but above all we still believe that honest business is sealed in handshakes and celebrated with friendships. Our list of loyal customers, suppliers and devoted employees is a proof of this.”

He points out that Vivian Corporation is the market leader in baby care and infant nutrition through its SMA Nutrition, Plasmon and Chicco brands. In the toiletries and cosmetics area the company handles Rimmel and several fragrances such as Beckham, Guess and Playboy, apart from Adidas toiletries. In the field of health and general goods the company sepcialises in Italian foods such as Misura, Cirio, Riso Scotti, De Cecco pasta and now Balocco.

“The Healthcare Division is providing health care professionals and patients with innovative medicines, for example from Pfizer (that were previously Wyeth), Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, Allergan, Boehringer Ingelheim and Shire Pharmaceuticals but before one heals one must diagnose and we are proud to be the distributors of laboratory equipment such as Roche Diagnostics and Sysmex as well as Pic brand for consumables,” he says.

He says the company is very excited as it not only embarks on solidifying its current business but also on launching new brands such as the No 1 nail care company in the United States, Sally Hansen and Italy’s newly launched Schiapparelli 1824 for pharmacy OTC lines.

“We shall be having new introductions across each division which really increases our motivation,” he stresses.

How difficult is it to compete in the market for pharmaceuticals considering that there is a level of government control over the prices of such products?

“It is difficult to compete in the tender system especially for new products as the Maximum Reference Prices given to us by the authorities may not be attainable. However, the more competition there is the better, except that in the case of parallel importation, products are being sold at the same prices, which defies the whole scope of parallel importation,” he answers.

Mr Gatt says one cannot be involved in supplying health care products and not be involved in health awareness campaigns. “The patient for us is the centre of our activity and information on the particular condition empowers the patient.

“We are strong believers that obesity, hypertension and diabetes are linked and with our brands Accuchek to diagnose Diabetes, Formoline L112 fat adsorber, to Pic blood pressure meters as well as Misura – for healthy nutrition – we organise ‘Meet The Experts’ seminars and only recently conducted a study on diabetes in Gozo and published results.

“Vivian Corporation has become well known for our ‘Mum’s to be’ seminar where expecting parents can be informed on issues such as vaccinations and nutrition.”

He says that on the occasion of World Kidney Day, which is celebrated today, the company is launching the Kidney Care Recipe Book at the Renal Unit at Mater Dei. This has been prepared by working closely with the Transplant Support Group and Healthcare Professionals as well as the Ministry of Health, he points out.