The Walgreens Boots Alliance empire was created through the combination of the US drugstore giant Walgreens and the UK’s leading pharmacy retailer Alliance Boots in late 2014.
The merger secured Boots chairman Stefano Pessina’s long-held ambition of creating a global health and beauty business.
Its scale was given a boost a few years later, when it agreed a deal to acquire 1,932 stores from US pharmacy rival Rite Aid.
Walgreens Boots Alliance in the UK has been re-investing funds in technology to up its digital capabilities, as well as taking the Advantage Card loyalty scheme online. As part of its plans it wants to build a “really seamless omnichannel offer”.
Boots remains the UK’s largest chemist chain by some margin and measures such as overhauling its largest beauty halls is helping drive the UK business forward. The retailer is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance's retail pharmacy international division.
Boots has reported strong sales and an 11th consecutive quarter of market share growth after delivering its biggest-ever Black Friday to date.
As the week saw news of both Boots and Shein exploring a public listing in London, analysts told Retail Week that there may still be “life in the old dog yet”.
Boots has agreed to transfer £4.8bn of pension obligations to insurer Legal & General in a deal that potentially paves the way for a sale by owner Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Walgreens is considering a hefty payout to offload the Boots pension scheme and reinvigorate shelved plans to sell the retailer.
Boots has launched its Christmas marketing campaign, titled ‘Thank you, Santa’, which focuses on giving joy.
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