Boots enjoys 4.1% rise in Christmas sales
Alliance Boots saw group revenue increase by 14.1% in the quarter ending 31 December compared to the same period in 2010.
The group’s health and beauty division performed well over the Christmas period with revenue rising 4.1% in the five weeks ending 31 December.
Boots UK like-for-like dispensing volumes increased by 1.2% in the quarter while like-for-like retail revenue grew 0.6%.
The group said total revenue for the quarter for all of its health and beauty division businesses, including Boots Opticians and the non-UK health and beauty businesses, was flat compared with the same quarter in 2010. However, th group still expects to deliver profit growth through a combination of gross margin management and tight cost controls.
The group confirmed it was on track to deliver its 2011/12 operational and financial targets.
Executive chairman Stefano Pessina said in a statement: “Looking to 2012, we expect the economic environment to remain tough with continuing pressure on both consumer and governmental expenditure. This will generate challenges but also new opportunities for us as we pursue our growth, organically and through further international expansion.”
He added: “I am as confident as ever that Alliance Boots will deliver another year of double digit trading profit growth for our financial year ending 31 March 2012.”
