The firm has posted a 13% increase in turnover to £37.9 million. The company, which trades under the Lindsay & Gilmour brand, said that there had been increased demand during the pandemic.

The Edinburgh-based firm employs 300 people in more than 30 outlets in east central Scotland and the Borders.

Annual accounts for 2020 show pre-tax profit of £2.4m, compared with £2.2m previously, The Times reports.

The directors noted that community pharmacy was one of the few areas of healthcare that continued to provide a full range of services to ensure that medicines could be supplied. They expected “current trading levels to continue” during 2021. An additional pharmacy, in Balerno on the outskirts of Edinburgh, was bought in February this year for £1.6 million.

A dividend of £439,839 was paid in the 2020 financial year, down slightly on the previous 12 months.