Novaltia

Novaltia is a Spanish pharmaceutical distribution cooperative headquartered in Zaragoza, Aragon. It was created in July 2013 through the merger of Aragofar, the leading pharmaceutical cooperative in Aragon, and Vascofar, the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in the Basque Country. The merger was described by the company as the first successful merger between pharmaceutical wholesalers in Spain. Novaltia operates as a full-range wholesaler, supplying both medicines and parapharmacy products to independent community pharmacies. It is wholly owned by its member pharmacists, with 100% pharmaceutical capital, and describes itself as one of Spain's largest pharmaceutical wholesalers with the strongest economic and financial structure in the sector. It is among Aragon's ten largest companies by turnover and is considered one of the most solvent cooperatives in the Basque Country. The cooperative serves more than 1,000 member pharmacies, with a strong regional footprint: over 72% of its business is in Aragon and around 30% in Bizkaia and Álava. It operates four logistics centres — Zaragoza, Zaratamo (Bilbao), Vitoria and Calatayud — and employs around 160 workers. Its catalogue includes more than 40,000 references, and it runs 156 delivery routes covering over 17,000 km per day. Novaltia's mission is to protect the interests of its independent pharmacy partners and to defend the Mediterranean pharmacy model, in which pharmacy ownership is restricted to licensed pharmacists. Its vision is to be the leader in Northern Spain and to build a leading cooperative group in Spain, providing its pharmacies with comprehensive management tools that give them a competitive advantage. Beyond logistics, Novaltia offers training and commercial services to its members. Many of these services are channelled through the Cruzfarma brand, operated by Unnefar, a company owned by ten pharmaceutical distribution cooperatives that acts as a large purchasing centre for more than 4,100 member pharmacies. Novaltia also promotes FarmaPremium, described as the first national loyalty programme aimed exclusively at pharmacy customers, based on a points system. The cooperative has been recognised publicly, receiving the CEOE award for best company in Aragon in 2024, and it maintains a chair (Cátedra Novaltia) with Universidad San Jorge, established in 2011. Novaltia also reports having opened the world's first zero-emissions warehouse.

Novaltia was created in July 2013 following the merger of Aragofar, the leading pharmaceutical cooperative in Aragon, and Vascofar, the Basque Country's largest pharmaceutical wholesaler. According to the company, this was the first successful merger between pharmaceutical wholesalers in Spain, marking a milestone in the industry. The merger combined Aragofar's strong position in Aragon with Vascofar's leading position in the Basque Country, creating a cooperative with a dominant regional footprint in Northern Spain. The origins of the two predecessor organisations are detailed on Novaltia's website under 'The origin', which presents the history of Aragofar, the Aragonese Pharmaceutical Cooperative, and the history of Vascofar. Aragofar had established itself as the leading pharmaceutical cooperative in Aragon, while Vascofar was the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in the Basque Country. Both were member-owned cooperatives serving independent community pharmacies. After the merger, Novaltia continued to operate as a full-range pharmaceutical wholesaler, supplying medicines and parapharmacy products to its member pharmacies. It consolidated its logistics network into four centres: Zaragoza, Zaratamo (Bilbao), Vitoria and Calatayud. The cooperative reports that more than 72% of its business is in Aragon and around 30% in Bizkaia and Álava, reflecting the combined regional strengths of its predecessors. In the years following its creation, Novaltia expanded its service offering beyond distribution. It developed training programmes, organising 60 events in 2019 alone — including conferences, courses, professional days, workshops and trips — with around 3,000 members participating. Many of its commercial services are channelled through the Cruzfarma brand, operated by Unnefar, a company owned by ten pharmaceutical distribution cooperatives that serves more than 4,100 member pharmacies. Novaltia also promotes FarmaPremium, described as the first national loyalty programme aimed exclusively at pharmacy customers, based on a points system that rewards non-medicine purchases. The cooperative has also invested in sustainability and innovation. It reports having opened the world's first zero-emissions warehouse, a milestone highlighted in its 2024 communications. In 2024, Novaltia received the CEOE award for best company in Aragon, with president Miguel Ángel Artal collecting the prize. The cooperative also maintains a long-standing relationship with Universidad San Jorge through the Cátedra Novaltia, the first chair established at that university, created in 2011 and renewed in 2024. Novaltia describes itself as one of Spain's largest pharmaceutical wholesalers with the best economic and financial structure in the sector, Aragon's tenth largest company by turnover, and one of the most solvent cooperatives in the Basque Country.

• Cátedra Novaltia established at Universidad San Jorge, the first chair at the university.

• Novaltia created through the merger of Aragofar and Vascofar, the first successful merger between pharmaceutical wholesalers in Spain.

• Novaltia organised 60 training and professional events with around 3,000 members participating.

• Novaltia received the CEOE award for best company in Aragon 2024.

• Novaltia reports opening the world's first zero-emissions warehouse.

• Novaltia and Universidad San Jorge renew the Cátedra Novaltia collaboration.

One of Spain's largest pharmaceutical wholesalers, a member-owned cooperative defending the Mediterranean pharmacy model, with a leading position in Aragon and the Basque Country.

• Pharmaceutical wholesale distribution

  Full-range distribution of medicines and parapharmacy products to member pharmacies, with a catalogue of over 40,000 references and 156 delivery routes covering more than 17,000 km per day.

• Cruzfarma

  Brand through which most services are channelled, operated by Unnefar, a company owned by 10 pharmaceutical distribution cooperatives serving more than 4,100 member pharmacies.

• FarmaPremium

  First national loyalty programme aimed exclusively at pharmacy customers, based on a points system; reports 94% customer loyalty and a 15% increase in average ticket.

• Una experiencIA de valor para la farmacia

1. 1Homenovaltia.es
2. 2The cooperativenovaltia.es
3. 3Servicesnovaltia.es
4. 4Novaltiawikidata.org