CSR Profile of C.A. Papaellinas

Papaellinas Group of Companies is today one of the largest and most dynamic organizations on the island of Cyprus, leading in all areas of its activities:

• Distribution of Pharmaceutical and FMCG products
• Distribution and Retail of Fragrances and Cosmetics
• Retail of Health Foods and Natural Remedies

C.A. Papaellinas & Co Ltd, the Group's mother company, was founded in 1929 as a Pharmaceuticals agency. During the following years the company expanded its activities into pharmaceutical imports, securing the representation of well known international pharmaceutical names. At the beginning of the 1960's, the company grew further by expanding in the field of consumer and cosmetics products.

The Group has a number of affiliated companies:

• Beauty Line: Founded in 1997, Beauty Line is now the no. 1 cosmetics chain in Cyprus with 14 stores in key locations on the island. At the beginning of 2011, two stores were made 'Carbon Neutral' in cooperation with the international non-profit organization, myclimate. The rest of the stores will soon follow.
• Pharmacy Line: Founded in 2002, Pharmacy Line is a leading import and distribution company of pharmaceutical products, which also offers logistic services to numerous local and international companies. At its cutting edge distribution centre, the biggest one of its kind in Cyprus, Pharmacy Line offers repacking facilities
• Demetriades & Papaellinas: Fully owned by the Group, it offers distribution services to pharmaceutical giant, Novartis.
• HealthLine: Founded in 2010, Health Line operates the Holland & Barrett franchise of health foods and natural remedies in Cyprus. There are currently 4 Holland & Barrett stores in Cyprus and there are plans for further expansion in the imminent future.
• Kapakiotis & Papaellinas: The Group owns 50% of the company that represents the internationally known GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical products.

New Distribution Centre:

In addition to the Pharmacy Line Distribution Centre, the Group has also built a new, state-of-the art Distribution Centre for consumer products in Dali, in the suburbs of Nicosia, to replace its old Distribution Centre. With its cutting edge SAP logistics system and extended fleet of vans, Papaellinas can now hope to expand its operations and services even further. By July 2011, the New Distribution Centre will be made Carbon Neutral with the help of the international organization myclimate, as in the case of the Beauty Line stores.

Products and Services

The Group holds a leading position in the market with its health and personal care products e.g. adidas, Tresseme, Sensodyne and Aquafresh. The company also leads in the pain-killer category with Panadol and in the paper product category with Kleenex. With Huggies and Nannys (local brand) diapers in its portfolio, the company now also holds a leading position in the diaper market. In March 2010, Nannys diapers, were certified by myclimate as the first carbon neutral diapers.

In the Food and Non-alcoholic drinks category, the Group has developed in the past few years with the distribution of strong international brands such as Lucozade energy drink, Ribena juices, Rauch juices and ice tea, Gerolsteiner water, Divella pasta, Sacla sauces, Monini and Gaea olive oil, Tabasco sauce etc.

In the field of the Cosmetics Wholesale business, the Group also holds a leading position with prestigious brands in its portfolio such as Chanel, La Prairie, Calvin Klein, Lancaster, Jean Paul Gaultier, Bulgari, and Hermes. The Group distributes its cosmetic products through Pharmacy Line.

Through Pharmacy Line, the Group also distributes Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis products as well as over-the-counter GlaxoSmithKline products. Furthermore, it distributes a wide range of other products such as Servier and Ipsen products and RoC dermocosmetics. In addition to distributing the products imported exclusively by the Group, Pharmacyline offers distribution services to other local companies for their imported products e.g. Milupa.

Awards and Distinctions

For its Human Resource practices and the numerous benefits offered to its personnel, Papaellinas Group of companies has been awarded the "Social Excellence Award" as well as the "Best Workplace" award.

Since its foundation, the company has always adopted a strong people-centric philosophy that is deeply rooted in all of its activities. The Group has excelled in several CSR practices it uses in its main pillars of activity: human resource, the market, society and the environment.

CSR Press Releases, Events & Reports Comments