Alliance Boots is understood to be close to signing an agreement with Reliance Retail to enter India’s health and beauty market.

The two retail giants are thought to be agreeing a joint venture to operate both wholesale and retail operations in India.

Alliance’s Boots fascia is likely to open in the country and healthcare centres are also being mooted.

An Alliance Boots spokeswoman said: “In line with its long established growth strategy, Alliance Boots continues to seek opportunities for expansion into large emerging markets. This includes holding discussions with a number of parties in such countries across the world including India.

“Our policy is to announce agreements when they have been reached, for example, our entry into Brazil earlier this week. We can therefore confirm that, while we have had discussions with several parties, no agreement has been signed in India.”

Topics