Health and beauty giant Boots UK enjoyed record Christmas sales up 3 per cent like for like in December, although like-for-like retail sales fell 1.7 per cent for the quarter.

Boots UK increased its revenue by 3.7 per cent for the quarter ending December 31, up 1.9 per cent on a like-for-like basis. Despite a fall in like-for-like retail sales, its like-for-like dispensing volume grew by 6 per cent.

Boots UK had two record-breaking days on December 23 and 24 and its Boxing Day was its best ever with sales up 30 per cent on 2007. The retailer said it performed strongly across Christmas gift, electricals and toiletries.

Revenue in Alliance Boots' pharmaceutical wholesale division increased 16.3 per cent. Adjusting for acquisitions and disposals, on a constant currency basis, like-for-like revenue increased 0.2 per cent.

Alliance Boots total revenue for the quarter was 11 per cent up on the comparable period in 2007. Revenue in its health and beauty division increased 4.2 per cent, up 1.3 per cent like for like.

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