- Q4 comparable retail sales up 6.2% YOY,[i] with growth across all categories
- Continued strong digital performance with sales up 18.7%,[ii] with app sales growing to their highest ever level
- Pharmacy sales up 10%,1 largely driven by strong demand for NHS and private services
- Over 55 new beauty brands launched in the year, cementing Boots position as the UK’s leading beauty retailer
- Continued positive momentum drives ongoing market share growth
Boots has delivered a comparable Q4 retail sales increase of 6.2% year-on-year1, with growth across all categories. The excellent final quarter contributed to a strong sales performance of 6.9% year-on-year for the full year ended 31 August 2024.
Both instore and online sales continued to grow in the quarter. Digital sales were particularly strong, up 18.7% year-on-year2, on top of substantial growth in the year ago quarter, and make up nearly 15% of total retail sales2. The Boots App is increasingly popular, now with 7.5 million active users and sales growing to their highest ever level, contributing 40% of total digital sales.
Store performance was boosted by sales growth in destination health and beauty, convenience and flagship stores, while airport stores also saw good growth as more customers turned to Boots for last-minute holiday essentials. Over the summer months suncare sales were up, with Boots own label range Soltan having a notable quarter with over 20% sales growth.
Beauty had another strong quarter with sales up over 6% year-on-year. The UK’s favourite beauty retailer[iii] continues to bring the best of beauty to its stores and boots.com, launching a number of trending and luxury brands this quarter, including TikTok sensation Made by Mitchell, Prada Beauty, Supergoop! and Laneige, bringing the total number of new beauty brands launched in the year to over 55.
Increased demand for both NHS and private healthcare services propelled pharmacy growth of 10% year-on-year, contributing to a 4.9% increase for the full year. The NHS Pharmacy First Service in England continued to perform well with over 150,000 consultations in the quarter. Other contributors to the growth included a record year for travel vaccinations and an ongoing uplift in Boots Online Doctor. In retail health and wellness, steady sales growth was driven by gains in pharmacy medicines and Boots own label range.
Boots also continues its focus on delivering value for customers. Its Price Advantage remains popular, contributing to a 4.5% year-on-year increase in sign-ups to Boots Advantage Card, which has 16.7 million active members.
Seb James, Managing Director, Boots UK and ROI, said: “I’m delighted to close the year with such a strong set of results. We have delivered a fourteenth consecutive quarter of market share growth and are seeing positive momentum across the whole business, with healthcare now performing strongly alongside our innovative beauty business.
“We’re laser focused on preparations for our peak trading period, with our Christmas gifting range landing in stores and Black Friday just around the corner.
“As I prepare to hand the leadership baton over to Anthony, I am confident that I am leaving the business in a very solid position, well set up to continue delivering on its exciting transformation. It has been a privilege to lead this business over the last six years and I’m incredibly proud of our team members for everything they do to make Boots as relevant today as it was 175 years ago.”
[i] All figures on a comparable year on year basis, unless otherwise stated.
[ii] Figures on a total reported basis.
[iii] Kantar Worldpanel | Total Market | Mass & Premium Beauty Category | 52w/e 9 June 2024 | Number one measured by GB Spend Share %.