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 11 countries, each business focused on helping people look and feel their best.

We operate more than 3,280 health and beauty retail stores, of which just under 3,180 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, Lithuania and Russia. We also have pharmacies in Thailand and our associates and joint ventures operate pharmacies in Switzerland, China, Italy and Croatia. In addition, around 50 Boots stores operate in the Middle East and Sweden on a franchised basis.

Pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution

Our pharmaceutical wholesale businesses, together with our associates and joint ventures, supply medicines, other healthcare products and related services to over 160,000 pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals from over 370 distribution centres in 21 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 No7, Soltan and Botanics. Our development, packaging and product marketing capabilities are very important.

We have recently launched a major new healthcare brand, Boots Pharmaceuticals, bringing together 160 years of Boots expertise in developing trusted healthcare products for our customers. Boots Pharmaceuticals has the widest range of healthcare products of any brand in the UK, including therapeutically proven medicines, natural alternatives, vitamins and first aid products.

The Boots Laboratories Serum7 skincare range was successfully launched in Italy, in partnership with Procter & Gamble, and in Spain. It is now sold in four European countries. In addition, we have recently launched Boots Laboratories Solei SP, a new suncare brand, which we are selling to independent pharmacies in France, Italy, Portugal and Spain and we are increasing sales of No7 to third party retailers and distributors in countries where we do not have a retail presence. We have entered into long-term partnerships with a select number of third party brand owners to sell their products in Boots stores on an exclusive basis, sharing in the future brand equity. We also continue to manufacture a significant proportion of the own brand and exclusive products that we sell.

Almus, our range of generic medicines and Alvita, our range of patient care products, are sold in five countries through our Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division.

* Figures are approximations as at 31 March 2011 and include associates and joint ventures.