Core ranges boost Boots
High street stores ‘trading well’
July 24 2003
Boots is seeing the benefits of its renewed focus on its core product ranges, with like-for-like sales in the Boots the Chemist chain up 4.6 per cent in the three months to the end of June.
Total retail sales for the first quarter were up 4.7 per cent, with strong contributions from dispensing sales, up 8 per cent, and cosmetics and fragrance lines, up 6 per cent.
The good weather across much of the UK in June also boosted sales of suncare products, with Boots’ espanded Sunshop offer showing ‘excellent’ sales growth.
Toiletries sales continued to show good progress, with the [i]Lower Prices You’ll Love[/i] promotional campaign performing ‘in line with expectations.’ Growth in food and baby merchandise, was offset by continued decline in photo sales. Boots said the later Easter increased the quarter’s sales growth by approximately 0.4 per cent.
Boots Healthcare International sales grew by 7.6 per cent, with increases across all major brands.
Chief executive John McGrath said: “Boots The Chemists is trading well and fully meeting our expectations. We continue to see the positive effects of the improvements and investment we are making in the business. Boots Healthcare International is showing consistent good performance.”
