Alliance Boots has acquired skincare brand Soap & Glory from founder and entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore.

Boots, Oxford Street

Alliance Boots has been Soap & Glory’s long-term commercial partner since its launch in 2006, providing distribution, sourcing and strategic support.

Boots exercised a call option to buy the whole business, which it has held since 2011, when it bought a minority stake to help Soap & Glory accelerate growth.

Following the acquisition Soap & Glory will operate as a standalone brand within Alliance Boots’ new Global Brands division lead by managing director, health and beauty and international Ken Murphy.

“Alliance Boots intends to maintain the company’s strong identity as an indie brand with an entrepreneurial culture,” the retailer said.

Sources close to the brand told Retail Week that Soap & Glory was sold for approximately £50m, and Kilgore sold the brand after securing commitments regarding the brand and the staff’s future.

Soap & Glory reported approximately £100m in sales last year.

Kilgore also launched skincare brand Bliss in the mid-1990s and founded footwear firm Fitflop in 2007.

Kilgore has now left the company, Retail Week understands.