Our history
In 1948, Ed and Helen Besse founded our company as a family-owned pharmacy in Cincinnati, Ohio. The close bonds that they built with their community and their commitment to helping their patients live healthier lives still define the way we work today.


The early 1960s
The Besse pharmacy expands

To better serve its community, Besse’s Drugs opens a second location just across the street from its first store. The Besse family lives in the small apartment above.


The late 1960s
Support at a moment’s notice
Besse receives a call from Ireland Army Hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky, urgently seeking smallpox vaccine for a general preparing to leave for Vietnam. Bob Besse locates the vaccine, personally packages it, and sends it via airmail for next-day delivery ensuring its timely arrival, establishing a practice that would become a fundamental piece of our business.
1974
Besse fulfills its one millionth prescription
1979
Further expansion
Besse purchases the savings-and-loan office next to its original location, converting the space into a physicians’ office. It becomes the home of Besse Home Health Care.


1990s
Growing to meet the needs of specialty practices

As business continues to accelerate, Besse grows to meet the needs of its customers, expanding its distribution capabilities, and national reach.

1998
Besse joins Bergen Brunswig
2001
Access to an even stronger network
AmerisourceBergen is born. Besse leverages the network’s scale to provide its customers even deeper pharmaceutical, vaccine, and biological offerings, allowing it to continue to grow alongside the expanding specialty practice market.
2001
Not just a large space, a smart space
Besse relocates to a 200,000 square-foot distribution center featuring advanced technologies that bolster accuracy and efficiency. Located just minutes from a main shipping hub, the center offers a unique degree of flexibility and reliability.

2017
Inventory management built for specialty practices

Besse acquires PODIS, the comprehensive procurement, inventory, and product management platform. It joins CubixxMD in Besse’s suite of best-in-class, specialty-focused inventory management tools.


2020
Supporting you during the pandemic

Besse Medical, like businesses all around the world, is hit by COVID-19. When the scale of the pandemic becomes clear, a massive operation swings into action across AmerisourceBergen to enable our office associates to work from home. Extra protections are put in place to ensure the safety of the essential workers supporting the healthcare supply chain in our distribution center. And new measures help meet surges in ordering caused by the increased need.

I had NO IDEA that you were working from home! Besse is, hands down, the best company that I work with.
Ashley N, Office Manager at a Family Practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado
The present day