Boots reports 5.9% retail sales growth in Q2 2024

Digital sales via its website and app grew by 16.8 per cent, driven by strong demand for beauty and personal care products.

Boots registered a twelfth consecutive quarter of retail market share growth, with a reported retail sales increase of 5.9 per cent for the three months ending on 29 February 2024.

This impressive growth comes on top of a 16 per cent increase recorded during the same period in the previous year, the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer revealed.

Strong growth was observed across digital platforms, namely Boots.com and the Boots app, with a 16.8 per cent surge in digital sales, particularly driven by “strong sales of beauty and personal care products.”

The growth of in-store sales remained consistent, registering a 4.5 per cent increase, with flagship, shopping center, and travel stores demonstrating particularly strong performance.

Boots’ airport stores recorded double-digit year-on-year growth, supported by the inauguration of a new store at Luton and refurbishments at Gatwick and Manchester.

Its sales increased steadily in the lead-up to Christmas, with beauty and cosmetic gift sets, many of which were own-brand, performing well.

The opening of the beauty-only store in London’s Battersea Power Station in December along with the launch of even more new beauty brands cemented Boots' position as the UK’s leading beauty retailer.

“The store’s launch, along with upgrades to a number of Boots beauty halls across the UK, contributed to overall beauty sales growth with particularly strong gains in skincare,” the company said.

In the healthcare sector, Boots experienced nearly 40 per cent growth in services, primarily fueled by the consistent strong performance of Boots Online Doctor. Weight loss turned out to be the most popular and fastest-growing service, it said.

Boots reported steady sales growth in retail health, propelled by its own-label range, notably the vitamins and pain relief products.

Within the first few weeks of its operation, Boots pharmacists conducted over 20,000 Pharmacy First consultations, indicating a strong reception by customers.

Sebastian James, CEO of Boots UK & ROI, said he was “really pleased” to see the sustained positive momentum across the whole business.  He noted an increase in their customers both online and in-store, along with significant growth in the healthcare and beauty sectors, which are key markets for the company.

“I am particularly proud of our pharmacy team, who worked incredibly hard to launch Pharmacy First in England; the feedback from patients has been brilliant and it is clear that they value the convenience of accessing a trusted healthcare professional on their local high street with no appointment necessary,” James said.

“We see a significant opportunity to do more in this area, helping customers to get better quickly, supporting communities and relieving the burden on the NHS,” he added.

Launched in England in January, the service aims to alleviate pressure on GPs by expanding the role of pharmacists to advise and prescribe for the treatment of seven common health conditions including earache, sore throat and sinusitis.

Boots operates a network of more than 2,100 stores across the UK, ranging from local community pharmacies to large destination health and beauty stores, and employs over 52,000 team members nationwide.

The company is part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail.