R.A. Williams positioned to reverse contraction of profits, says CEO
Published:Wednesday | October 1, 2025 | 12:07 AM
R.A. Williams Distributors Limited expects that the investments made as groundwork for growth will soon start paying off in the form of returns and market share, in an assurance to shareholders that current losses are not expected to last.
The fiscal year ending April delivered positive earnings but the quarter to July, the first fiscal period for FY2026, was marked by losses, and came after spending on product development, market expansion, and infrastructure upgrades.
“Our story has always been about expanding the reach of care and about finding ways to bring medicines and support closer to the people who need them most,” CEO Audley Reid told shareholders at the company’s annual general meeting last week.
The company’s listing on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in August 2024 was a pivotal moment. Reid described it as the fulfilment of a plan set in motion by the late chairman and business icon R. Danny Williams. The listing injected fresh capital into the business, enabling R.A. Williams to fast-track its expansion plans, Reid noted.
One of the company’s moves was the launch of Iracet, the first generic anti-seizure medication on the Jamaican market to treat epilepsy, through an exclusive partnership with Square Pharmaceuticals of Bangladesh.
For the financial year ending April 2025, R.A. Williams reported revenue of $1.6 billion and profit of $28.6 million. The July 2025 quarter delivered revenue of $417 million and a loss of $1.9 million, reversing $24 million of profit in the similar quarter in 2024. The company attributed the dip to increased operating expenses tied to its expansion efforts, including regulatory filings, marketing for new products, and onboarding of new staff.
“We are investing in succession planning and leadership development to ensure that R.A. Williams continues to do well with a capable team at the helm,” said Reid. The company is also pursuing regulatory approvals for a pipeline of new pharmaceutical preparations, aimed at introducing more therapies to the Jamaican market.
The company’s future plans include regional market expansion, with feasibility studies under way in select Caribbean territories; digital transformation, including upgrades to inventory management and customer engagement platforms; and product diversification, with a focus on chronic care and wellness market segments.
After a year of heavy investment, Reid says the key watchwords will be consolidation and growth in the periods ahead. He says the strategic moves should pay off in the form of improved profitability and market share.