Despite significant sales growth in the quarterly results, high street chemist Boots is moving forward with its plan to close 300 stores in the UK. The move,
aimed at improving profit margins amid rising costs and competition, will reduce the chain's portfolio from around 2,200 to just 1,900.
Last month, the U.S.-based Walgreens Boots Alliance, the parent company of Boots, announced upcoming store closures within the next year. However, the company
assured that there will be no job losses as all employees will be given the opportunity to be redeployed to nearby shops.
The following sites are confirmed for closure on the specified dates:
Heathside Rd, Woking (end of July)
UEA campus (end of July)
Hamlet Ct Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea (August 1)
Windhill Road, Wakefield (October 6)
Upper Warrengate, Wakefield (October 7)
Glastonbury (October 13)
Guildford Road, Woking (end of October)
Boots stores at Salford Shopping Centre in Greater Manchester, Church Street in Malvern, The Port Arcades Shopping Centre in Ellesmere, and King William Street
in London have already closed since spring.
Boots has shut down three more stores, as it moves forward with its plan to close 300 stores across the UK over the next 12 months.
On Saturday (18 November), Boots closed its branches in Mudge Way, Plymouth; Mount Pleasant Road, Exeter; and Low Moor Road, Kirkby, Ashfield.
The NHS issued a memo to shoppers and patients who use the Plymouth branch, which is located next to Plympton Health Centre, to inform them that "you will
need to find and nominate another pharmacy to dispense your prescriptions going forward."
Patients can set their nomination by contacting their new pharmacy and requesting "they do this for you."
According to DevonLive, a note was attached to the Mount Pleasant pharmacy door that read: "Boots Mount Pleasant Store will close on Saturday, November 18 2023.