Our history - Orifarm

Our history

With a strong vision, albeit limited experience and knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, Birgitte and Hans Bøgh-Sørensen has grown Orifarm from a “two-owners-one-employee” company to an international organization with offices across Europe and in the United States.

Starting out with a strong entrepreneurial mission to make high-quality pharmaceuticals a better deal for patients, society, and Orifarm, Birgitte and Hans Bøgh-Sørensen have grown Orifarm from a small danish company in 1994 into an impressive international organization employing more than 2,300 colleagues.

A family-owned company

Orifarm is a family-owned company. The company was founded in Odense, Denmark, in 1994 by Birgitte and Hans Bøgh-Sørensen. Today, Orifarm is owned by the founding couple and their three grown-up children, Christian, Anne-Charlotte and Andreas Bøgh-Sørensen. Nearly 30 years after the foundation of Orifarm, owners Birgitte and Hans Bøgh-Sørensen still remain heavily involved in the continuous long-term development of Orifarm.

Appointment of our CEO Erik Sandberg

In January 2019, Hans Bøgh-Sørensen stepped down as CEO and handed over control of the daily business to Group CEO Erik Sandberg.

However, Hans Bøgh-Sørensen remained on as a member of the Board of Directors and, in August 2020, he took over as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orifarm Group.

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Having appointed a new CEO to control daily business, Hans Bøgh-Sørensen remains a member of the Board of Directors and, in August 2020, he took over as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Orifarm Group.

Our history in short

1994: Orifarm founded by Birgitte and Hans Bøgh-Sørensen.

1995-2005: Organic growth within Orifarm Health Access to cover the rest of the Nordic countries; Orifarm Healthcare is founded.

2006: Acquisition of Pharma Western, Germany (Orifarm Health Access).

2008-2010: Profit focus and split of Orifarm Trade and Orifarm Healthcare + establishment of professional and international Board of Directors.

2013: Production and inbound logistics setup in the Czech Republic.

2015: Orifarm acquires Growth House Holding, including the companies Alternova, Viminco and Pilum Pharma.

2015-2018: Entry into the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Austria.

2019: Orifarm acquires the company Pilatus Comparator Solutions, with activities in the UK, Germany and the U.S.

2020: Acquisition by Takeda, including more than 100 pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, as well as approximately 600 employees.

2020: To ensure Orifarm remains family-owned in the future, the next step of the succession is completed, as Birgitte and Hans Bøgh-Sørensen transfer further company shares to their three children. Hans Bøgh-Sørensen remains Chairman of the Board of Directors and continues to have the majority voting right.

2022: Orifarm focuses on building the foundation for further growth, as the company continues to grow into a larger international player.

Always aiming higher

For us, achieving one goal means setting a new one. We have a history of increasing turnover, and our ambition is to keep raising the bar - for Orifarm and for our customers.