M&D Green Group, based in Glasgow, plans to retain all existing staff at Eskside Pharmacy on Musselburgh’s High Street, and recruit a new, full-time delivery driver. It will also fully refurbish and re-brand the store from September as part of the acquisition.

The deal continues the group’s growth plan of expanding across the central belt and follows the purchase of five Thomas McLean & Son’s pharmacy units in 2018, also funded by HSBC UK.

The acquisition takes the group’s total number of units in Scotland to 24 and adds to M&D Green’s growing portfolio of pharmacies across Scotland, made up predominantly of stores across the central belt, in Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire and now Lothian.

Martin Green, owner of M&D Green Group, said: “HSBC UK has continually backed our ambitious growth plans and the support to purchase the pharmacy in Musselburgh is an important next step in our overall expansion plan throughout Scotland.”

Grant Bett, relationship director at HSBC UK, added: “We are pleased to support ambitious businesses in Scotland and Martin has shown in recent years that they have been following through on their expansion plans with great success.”