- Comparable retail sales up 6%1, with growth across all categories
- Pharmacy sales up 5.8%, driven by strong demand for healthcare services
- Digital sales continue to grow at pace up 13.8%2, with app sales delivering strong growth
- Increased footfall in larger stores and airports drive in store sales up 3.8%2
- Continued momentum drives thirteenth consecutive quarter of market share growth
Boots has delivered a thirteenth consecutive quarter of market share growth with both retail and pharmacy sales in growth for the three months ended 31 May 2024.
Retail sales increased by 6%, on top of a 13% increase in the prior year quarter, with growth across all categories.
Digital sales continue to grow rapidly up 13.8%2, on top of 25%2 growth in the year ago quarter. Investment in the Boots App has resulted in more customers choosing to shop personalised offers via their phone with app sales growing significantly in the quarter.
In store sales also grew in the quarter boosted by increased footfall in flagship, destination health and beauty and travel stores. Airport stores performed particularly well following refits of four Boots airport stores within the quarter.
Pharmacy sales were up 5.8% for the quarter, driven by increased take up of healthcare services. Boots now offers over 160 services online or in store, with travel services and vaccinations popular in the quarter ahead of summer holidays and increased travel. Two new skincare services launched in the quarter further strengthening Boots position as the one stop shop for skincare. The new services are a Skin Condition Diagnosis Service and a treatment for Skin Ageing and Hyperpigmentation.
The NHS Pharmacy First Service continues to be well received with Boots delivering over 20,000 consultations in England on average each month since launch in January, with sore throat and urinary tract infections the most common conditions presented. In retail health, steady sales growth was bolstered by strong demand for cough cold products and vitamins and supplements.
Boots added a further 14 new and trending brands to its line-up for beauty customers to enjoy within the quarter, including Milk, The Beauty Crop, Tree Hut, Coats and Kurl Kitchen, with even more exciting new beauty brands set to join over the summer. Self-Selection Cosmetics performance was supported by the relaunch of Boots iconic own brand makeup line Natural Collection, offering over 100 vegan cosmetics and bodycare lines at £5 or less.
Customers continue to respond well to Boots focus on value with Price Advantage remaining popular and contributing to a 5.8% increase in sign-ups to the Advantage Card.
Sebastian James, Boots UK & ROI CEO, commented: “This is another set of consistently strong results for Boots. I am pleased to see our positive momentum continue across the whole business, with both retail and healthcare increasing sales and a thirteenth consecutive quarter of market share growth. We continue to focus on making exciting new brands and services accessible, whilst focusing on value and rewarding loyalty. We are committed to delivering a fantastic experience for customers however they shop with us. I would like to thank our incredible team members for their continued hard work and ongoing commitment to deliver for our customers every day.”
1All figures on a comparable year on year basis, unless otherwise stated
2Figures on a total reported basis