A Perthshire-based dental firm has invested £600,000 to add two new practices to its expanding portfolio.
Infinityblu Dental Care and Implant Clinic, founded in Pitlochry in 2007 by Chris Barrowman, has taken over practices in Auchtermuchty and Galashiels in the last few months.
The acquisitions grow the group to 11 practices in total, with Infinityblu also now considering developing a city foothold in Scotland for the first time.
In total, over £10m has been invested in the last 16 years, following a model of organic growth, reinvestment of profits and financial lending, rather than corporate expansion via venture capital.
The £400,000 deal for the former MyDental practice in Albert Place, Galashiels, cements the group’s presence in the Borders, with practices already operational in Duns and Peebles.
Infinityblu has introduced orthodontics, dental implants and digital dentistry into the area, with plans for specialist oral surgery and sedation services, presently lacking in the region.
The move to Auchtermuchty represents the group’s first practice in Fife and comes as a result of an approach by the local health board, with the doors of the existing practice having been shut for some time.
Previously owned by an English-based corporate, which had struggled to recruit, the practice is now running with a full team of dentists, dental nurses, hygienists and managerial staff.
Around £200,000 has been invested, including the purchase, to make the practice operational again.
The two new practices add around 10,000 patients to the Infinityblu roster, with more than 55,000 patients now registered across the portfolio.
“Our Galashiels practice is going to be a dental hub for Infinityblu, with the intention to grow our dental implant, oral surgeries and orthodontic services and introduce IV sedation services for nervous patients,“ explained Barrowman.
“The Auchtermuchty acquisition has allowed us to open our doors and offer essential services to patients who have been without a dentist for a long time.
“There is a big demand for NHS dentistry in the Fife area, the region is always somewhere I felt was a good location for an Infinityblu practice and to have a foothold opens up many more opportunities.”
Infinityblu now has practices in Duns, Peebles, Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Crieff, Alyth, Auchterarder, Callander, Killin, Auchtermuchty and Galashiels.
The intention is to continue developing the group, with one site currently being assessed in Perth.
“Our model is about reinvestment of the profits, supporting and investing in our patients, our people, the community and living by our vision and values,“ added Barrowman. “There are no investors making decisions because we are not a corporate relying on asset and venture capital, the decisions are made by Infinityblu.”
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