WHAT started as a small family business in Nausori has now turned into 120-staffed workforce including 20 pharmacists employed in renowned pharmacies in Fiji.
Now, the business has expanded to Sydney in Australia, Tonga and Vanuatu, with plans to open pharmacies and medical centres in remote Fiji such as Levuka, Tailevu, Rotuma Taveuni and Lakeba.
According to Superdrug pharmacies director Abhay Nand, this would not have been possible if government had not been very accommodative in assisting them with getting medical personal from abroad.
“We expanded to Nabua and Nadi but later sold one in Nadi,” Mr Nand said in an interview.
With a few new projects on hand, Mr Nand said he would exit from his pharmacy business next year leaving it to the new generation and try and finish his hotel projects and medical centres.
His sons include Prabhay Nand, Nibhay Nand and Pranibhay Nand, are all pharmacists and graduated from Australia and all have worked for well-known pharmacies such as of Terry White, Priceline and Tony Ferguson in Australia before joining their family business.
“They all assist me now with the running of the business namely Superdrug pharmacies and others under Health Point banner. The youngest, Aksahy Nand is studying in Townsville Australia to become a pharmacist.
“I started my work at Westpac after school and it was the bank that encouraged me to go to USP and paid for it. I worked there for about 20 years and had a pharmacy business at the same time in Nausori known as Nands Pharmacy.
“My wife Nirmala Nand was managing the pharmacy with me assisting after hours and weekends.
“We are a very close knit family and my mother Prabha Nand who is about 70 still is the boss of the household.
“Being the only son I still have to keep her informed of my movements, any business plans and still have to inform her if I coming late at night.
“I do have some very good friends who are my free advisory board and we discuss lots over a bowl of kava after work.”
Mr Nand is also a trustee of Fiji Taxi Association and a Justice of Peace for more than 20 years. To unwind, he loves a glass of red wine with a nice music or TV shows and spoil himself with duck chaiser and scotch, and of course with family and good friends around.
Superdrugs Pharmacy has 14 pharmacists around the country and is run by the family of pharmacists — parents and three sons.
