Boots

Boots is a British health, wellness and beauty retailer with its head office in Beeston, Nottinghamshire. John Boot opened a herbalist store at 6 Goose Gate in Nottingham in 1849 to offer an affordable alternative to traditional medicines. Boots became the first UK chemist to introduce self-service stores in 1951. The company says it has over 51,000 team members and over 1,800 stores, ranging from local community pharmacies to large health and beauty destinations.

Range

Boots combines pharmacy services with health products, skincare, make-up, fragrance and baby goods.

Where to find it

Boots operates mainly in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In other countries, Boots-branded stores are run by partners under a franchise model.

Ownership

Boots was part of Walgreens Boots Alliance. On 28 August 2025, the US private equity firm Sycamore Partners completed the acquisition of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Boots now belongs to The Boots Group as a private standalone company controlled by Sycamore, whose seat is in the United States. Boots is therefore marked as having a non-European parent.