The retailer has converted more than 200 pharmacies out of a total 1,100 to its Your Local Boots Pharmacy fascia and has now stepped up conversions to about 80 to 100 a month.
Alliance Boots director of stores Simon Roberts said: “We will have all the small pharmacies converted by summer next year and the response has been great. Customers like having Boots own-brand products alongside their usual pharmacy services.”
Alliance Boots posted like-for-like retail sales up 0.5 per cent in its UK health and beauty operation for the six months to September 30. Like-for-like dispensing volume was up 4.7 per cent. Like-for-like revenues in its pharmaceutical wholesale division climbed 3.6 per cent.
Boots is also trialling an order online and collect in-store operation, which Roberts said will be available in 1,270 shops by Christmas. It has also linked its store staff bonus schemes to its customer research.
During the year, Alliance Boots has invested in new products such as its No 7 Protect & Perfect Foundation range and No 7 Extreme Length Mascara.
Roberts said that while the downturn has meant shoppers are spending their money wisely, “as long as we continue to offer them what they want, we will fare well”. He said: “Next year we will be prudent as it is easy to try and do too much. We will be bold and confident about what we believe in and what works, and obsessive about listening to customers.”
This week Boots also launched its Christmas TV ad, which celebrates the art of choosing gifts. It is set in an office and shows women wrapping presents in an effort to ensure they give the perfect Secret Santa gift. It features the Sugababes’ song, Girls.
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