Sanicare Files for Insolvency Again: German Mail Pharmacy Struggles

Sanicare, a prominent German mail-order pharmacy, filed for insolvency on July 15 with 74 employees, marking its second collapse since 2012. The company reported 80 million euros in revenue last year but faces declining sales and high infrastructure investments. Management is pursuing self-administration to restructure the business rather than liquidate it.

Why Sanicare filed for insolvency

Sanicare blamed falling revenues and heavy spending on infrastructure upgrades for its financial troubles. The company cited competition from foreign mail-order pharmacies that launched aggressive campaigns after Germany introduced e-prescriptions. Declining sales combined with high investment costs pushed the Bad Laer-based business into insolvency.

Self-administration instead of liquidation

Sanicare filed for self-administration (Eigenverwaltungsverfahren) rather than standard insolvency, allowing current management to lead the restructuring. A provisional receiver oversees the process while the company continues operations without interruption. Co-owners Christoph Bertram and Heinrich Meyer remain fully in charge and claim the business operates normally.

Restructuring plan ahead

Management aims to cut costs and achieve sustainable profit growth over the coming weeks. The company has prepared detailed cash flow projections and is developing a formal restructuring plan to satisfy creditors. Sanicare is asking suppliers and partners to continue working with it, arguing that cooperation improves creditor payouts beyond the minimum legal threshold.

Second insolvency in 14 years

This marks Sanicare’s second insolvency filing after a previous collapse in 2012. The German mail-order pharmacy sector faces mounting pressure from online competitors and regulatory changes. The company’s struggle reflects broader challenges facing traditional pharmacy business models in an increasingly digital market.

Final Thoughts

Sanicare’s second insolvency in 14 years signals deepening pressure on German mail-order pharmacies facing foreign competition and infrastructure costs. The self-administration route offers a restructuring path, but success depends on reversing revenue decline and supplier support.

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