Tristel ends supply agreement with Medichem

Tristel, a UK manufacturer of infection control, contamination control and hygiene products, has terminated its supply arrangement with Medichem for a range of disinfectants and cleaning products.

Tristel has been Medichem’s principal supplier following its acquisition of the intellectual property and manufacturing rights for the products in 2009.

Since then Tristel’s sales to Medichem have been worth around £2m a year, but the Newmarket firm now plans to market the products directly to hospitals and veterinary practices under Tristel-related brands.

Tristel says its manufacturing plant will continue to produce the products and its ISO accreditation for the manufacturing process and the CE marks authorising the use of the products mean it is well positioned to ensure continued supply to the marketplace.

The firm says the enhanced margins achieved under direct supply arrangements should help offset the short-term disruption caused by the termination of existing arrangements.

Tristel says it is now free to broaden its product offering within areas that it had not been directly involved with, including its core hospital marketplace.

Among the products that Tristel will now market are peracetic acid based instrument disinfectants and quaternary ammonium compound and biguanide based surface disinfectants.

Paul Swinney, chief executive of Tristel, said: “The termination of this arrangement, whilst not planned, will give Tristel the opportunity to utilise its sales team in these new areas.

“Whilst there will undoubtedly be some short term disruption, we see this as a positive opportunity in the medium term and beyond.”