The chief executive of Boots has promised “significant investment” in its store portfolio and online business after a sale of the chemists chain was pulled.
The company delivered a 13.5% rise in sales during the three months to the end of May, driven by a 45% rise in footfall across its shops year-on-year.
Earlier this week, US-based Walgreens Boots Alliance pulled the business from a planned sale process, saying no bidder had come forward with a high enough offer. It had once hoped to offload the company for as much as £7bn.
WBA chief executive Roz Brewer told analysts the company “will stay open to all opportunities to maximise shareholder value” in the business.
Boots managing director Sebastian James said: “The execution of our transformation programme and a sharp focus on expanding our key categories of healthcare and beauty, has driven strong sales and market share growth and further strengthened our position as the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer.
“Significant investment in both our digital platforms and in our stores is expected to drive continued market-leading growth.”
