Group profile

We are a leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group with two core business activities, pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution.

Pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing

We have pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses in ten* countries, each business focused on helping people look and feel better.

We operate more than 3,250* health and beauty retail outlets, of which just under 3,150* have a pharmacy. In Europe we are the clear market leader in pharmacy with stores in the UK, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy and Russia. We also have pharmacies in Thailand and our associates and joint ventures operate pharmacies in Switzerland, China, Lithuania and Italy. In addition, around 45 Boots stores operate on a franchised basis in the Middle East.

Pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution

We provide an innovative range of wholesale distribution and related services for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.

Our pharmaceutical wholesale businesses, together with our associates and joint ventures, supply medicines, other healthcare products and related services to over 150,000* pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals from over 360* distribution centres in 16* countries. In addition, our associates themselves have associates in a further five countries.

Products

Both our Divisions are increasingly seeking to enhance their customer offering through accelerating the development of differentiated products.

In our Health & Beauty Division we have highly regarded and long established product brands such as Boots, No7, Soltan and Botanics. Our product development, packaging and product marketing capabilities are very important. We continue to manufacture a significant proportion of the own brand and exclusive product brands that we sell.

Almus, our exclusive range of generic medicines, is sold in five countries, having been launched in Spain and in Portugal through our associate. Our Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division also sells our range of Alvita patient care products and Boots Laboratories Serum7 in France and in Portugal. The Boots Laboratories skincare range will be launched in Spain and Italy in summer 2010, the latter in partnership with Procter & Gamble. In addition, the Division sells Boots brands directly to third party retailers in the US and other countries.

* Figures stated are as at 31 March 2010, are approximate and include associates and joint ventures.