Drug distributor and pharmacy operator Celesio reported first-half sales down 1% to E1.75bn (£1.5bn) in its retail division, which includes Lloydspharmacy in the UK and DocMorris on the continent. The division’s pre-tax earnings fell 25.6% to E102.1m (£88m). The company attributed the decline to government measures and a fall in store numbers. Celesio operated 2,291 retail pharmacies as at June 30 – 20 pharmacies fewer than at the same time in 2010.