TEMECULA, Calif., July 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FFF Enterprises, Inc., the nation's largest and most trusted distributor of plasma products, vaccines and other specialty pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals celebrates its 26th anniversary on July 8, 2014. With a focus on safety and innovation, FFF takes a proactive approach to helping its customers ─ both healthcare providers and their patients ─ navigate the dynamic and changing healthcare landscape.
"Since our inception, our goal has always been to get the critical-care products we distribute from the manufacturer to the patient in the most efficient, streamlined way possible, minimizing the complexity for our customers and maximizing patient safety," says Patrick M. Schmidt, chief executive officer, FFF Enterprises, Inc.
Headquartered in Temecula, Calif., FFF serves customers across the nation, with a majority on the East Coast. To expand its capacity to serve more customers, FFF is preparing to open a second distribution facility in Kernersville, N.C. Slated to house 164 new team members; the North Carolina location will also feature a NuFACTOR Specialty Pharmacy, allowing FFF to ship products for same business day delivery anywhere in the country.
"It became mandatory for us to expand our center of operation," says Schmidt. "As we looked to the future, it became apparent that we needed multiple sites that are prepared to handle 100 percent of our business for an extended period of time in the event of a natural disaster. Business continuity is essential for any company, but when you are dealing with critical-care products, there are lives hanging in the balance."
As FFF continues to grows, so does the range of customers it serves. Earlier this year, the company signed a new contract that will improve access to specialty medications for select hospitals and patients, and extend FFF's reach in the specialty pharmaceutical business, which is projected to grow to approximately $400 billion by 2020.
FFF has also invested in technology as part of the company's strategic growth plan. In late 2013, the company launched its inventory management program, Verified Inventory Program-Consignment (VIPc). VIPc utilizes advanced RFID technology to continuously monitor product inventory and automatically replenish stock as it is used. The system also eliminates carrying costs, and invoices customers only when products are used.
Founded in 1988 with $100 and a vision to distribute patient examination gloves, FFF's annual sales today approach $1 billion, and its partners include the largest and most influential GPOs, serving over 80 percent of U.S. hospitals and supplying the nation's leading non-acute care sites.
Almost from the start, FFF set out to reshape the biopharmaceutical industry by making the supply chain safer for patients. FFF's mission, "Helping Healthcare Care," is epitomized by other innovative technologies such as its Verified Electronic Pedigree (VEP)™ system, which electronically displays the chain of custody for every product it ships, and its Lot-Track™ service, which tracks products by lot number and provides recall notification to those affected. The company's foresight also led to the development of a best practices business model dubbed "The 8 Critical Steps to Guaranteed Channel Integrity™."
FFF's patient-centered focus resonates through its specialty pharmacy subsidiary, NuFACTOR, which provides immune globulin, coagulation factors and vaccines directly to patients. Other innovative programs include MyFluVaccine and VaxAmerica which provide revolutionary approaches to vaccine access and administration.
About FFF Enterprises, Inc.
FFF Enterprises is the largest and most trusted distributor of plasma products, vaccines and other specialty pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals in the U.S. Founded in 1988, FFF is now in its 27th year with more than a billion dollars in annual sales and a flawless safety track record. FFF has taken a leadership position in regard to supply chain safety and innovation, setting new standards and pioneering industry firsts. FFF's commitment to Guaranteed Channel Integrity™ ensures that products are purchased only from the manufacturer and shipped only to healthcare providers, with additional steps taken to safely store, handle and ship products to ensure patient safety is never compromised. Together with its Verified Inventory Program-Consignment (VIPc)™ that provides real-time inventory management utilizing advanced RFID technology, FFF's proprietary systems, Verified Electronic Pedigree™ and Lot-Track™, provide verification of FFF's secure channel. In addition, FFF's MyFluVaccine (www.MyFluVaccine.com) and VaxAmerica (www.VaxAmerica.com) are revolutionary vaccination programs that have added a new level of safety, convenience and reliability for both healthcare providers and consumers.