Alliance Boots celebrates 160 years of Boots and plans to make it a global brand
Alliance Boots today celebrates the 160th anniversary of the Boots brand and highlights its commitment to making Boots a global brand in the coming years. In 1849, Boots opened its first store in Nottingham and 160 years later, the brand is going from strength to strength, both in the UK and internationally. In recognition of this success, a three month campaign was launched in September with the opening of a heritage exhibition at the University of Nottingham, followed by further activities in a number of countries.
Further strengthening of the Boots brand in the UK
In 2009, the Boots brand in the UK has continued to grow through the roll-out of the ‘your local Boots pharmacy’ branded format, the launch of BootsWebMD (the consumer health and wellness information portal), and the start of the rebranding of Dollond & Aitchison practices as Boots Opticians. In addition, the first phase of Boots UK’s partnership with Waitrose is complete with the 13 pharmacies it operates in Waitrose stores rebranded as Boots. It is anticipated that the first trials for the sale of selective product ranges in each other’s stores will commence in Spring 2010.
Developing the Boots brand internationally
Outside the UK, the Group continues to expand the presence of the Boots brand through the opening of new stores in the Republic of Ireland and Thailand, the roll out of the new “Boots apotek” branded format in Norway and the extension of its trial of the new “Boots apotheek” pharmacy concept in The Netherlands. Following the launch of the Boots Laboratories skincare range in pharmacy in France and Portugal, the Group also plans to launch this range in other countries.
New partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support
Today Boots UK also announces an ambitious new charity partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support. In 2010, Boots and Macmillan will launch an innovative pilot aimed at improving access to cancer care in the UK. This will offer a new level of support to people living with cancer, through the two organisations’ combined healthcare expertise, unique knowledge of cancer and widespread presence in local communities.. Together, Boots and Macmillan will develop a range of initiatives including volunteering and fundraising, with the ambition that within three years, everyone, wherever they are in the UK, will have access to the best cancer information and support in their community.
Stefano Pessina, Executive Chairman, Alliance Boots, comments: “We are delighted to be celebrating the 160th anniversary of the Boots brand and we look forward to continuing to build Boots as a global brand in the coming years.”
ENDS
Editor's Notes:
Alliance Boots is a leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group offering a wide range of products and services to our customers working in close partnership with manufacturers and pharmacists. Our two core business activities are pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling. Alliance Boots is privately-owned and employs over 115,000* people. Its wholesale and distribution network serves over 140,000* pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals from over 370* pharmaceutical wholesale distribution centres in 16* countries. We operate more than 3,200* health and beauty retail stores in nine* countries, of which just under 3,000* have a pharmacy.
Boots UK is the UK's leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer and is a member of Alliance Boots. Boots UK’s mission is to help customers look and feel better than they ever thought possible. Boots UK has a network of around 2,600 stores from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores offering fantastic products and services.
* Figures stated are as at 31 March 2009, are approximate and include associates and joint ventures.
For further information, please contact:
Yves Romestan / Zoe Farthing / Sanam Conway, Alliance Boots
Tel: +44 (0)1932 871569
James Murgatroyd / Kirsty Flockhart, Finsbury PR
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7251 3801
