Boots, the UK’s largest health and beauty retailer, reported in-store and online sales growth for the three months ending February 29, 2024, delivering retail market share growth for the 12th consecutive quarter. Retail sales grew 5.9% year over year in the second quarter, on top of a 16% increase in the prior year's quarter.
Boots has invested in securing its position as the UK’s leading beauty retailer, carrying around 500 beauty, skincare, and haircare brands and over 1,200 Boots Beauty Specialists.
In December, the retailer opened its first beauty-only store in London’s Battersea Power Station, 11,200 square feet and stocked with 250 buzzy brands. Upgrades to a number of Boots beauty halls across the UK contributed to overall beauty sales growth with particularly strong gains in skincare.
Nineteen new beauty brands launched in the quarter with skincare brand Bubble landing exceptionally well, selling one product per minute at launch. Other popular brands included Sol de Janeiro, Drunk Elephant, Byoma, and Boots-owned No7, which had a strong quarter with sales up 15%.
Brick-and-mortar sales growth remained steady at 4.5%, driven by flagships, shopping centers, and travel stores. Airport stores delivered double-digit growth year on year, supported by a new store opening at Luton and refurbishments at Gatwick and Manchester. Online sales surged 16.8% in the second quarter of the year on Boots.com and the Boots app.
Sebastian James, Boots UK and ROI, said, “I am really pleased to see our positive momentum continue across the whole business, with more people shopping with us both online and in store, and strong gains in both our key markets of healthcare and beauty.
“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.
"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.”
Customers continue to respond well to a focus on value, with Boots Price Advantage driving an increase in sign-ups to the Advantage Card, with one million new members joining in the past year.
