Health & beauty retailer Boots is to expand further into the convenience market, with plans to build on its existing food offering, Retail Gazette understands.
The company, which earlier this week reported a like-for-like (LFL) sales increase of 0.5 per cent year-on-year for its retail category, hopes the move will entice customers keen to make quick purchases.
As a company focused on health, Boots also expressed its desire to offer nutritious options.
A Boots UK spokesman told Retail Gazette: “At Boots UK we are always looking for ways to expand our business aligned to customer demand and as part of this we are committed to continuing to grow our presence in the convenience market.
“We have built our credibility in the food arena with our very successful exclusive Boots brands, ‘Shapers‘ and ‘Delicious‘ delivering a healthy option at lunchtime and we will continue to innovate and focus on these strengths.”
Earlier this week, parent company Alliance Boots announced a 12.4 per cent rise in headline trading profit for the year ending March 31st 2012, while its total revenue increased to £23 billion, up 18.4 per cent on the previous year.
Boots UK, meanwhile, suffered a 0.2 per cent drop in total sales and a 1.1 per cent fall in LFL sales over the period, blamed on a reduction in demand for cold and flu remedies as well as government cuts, and it is hoped that this latest launch will boost sales.
The spokesman added: “We are exploring how we can deliver even greater choice and convenience for our customers through a broader offering.”
