Boots has delayed the launch of its marketplace, which it unveiled this spring.

The health and beauty company had said the marketplace would allow third-party brands of any size to feature their products on its website.

However, Boots has shelved this plan in favour of boosting its existing dropship programme, which enables third-party brands to deliver their products directly to shoppers, according to Retail Week.

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Retail-owned marketplaces have been a popular trend in recent years as brands look to benefit from widening their product offer.

Boots’ rival Superdrug launched its marketplace in November last year, which launched selling 300 brands.

Other retailers including B&Q, Mountain Warehouse and Farfetch have all launched their own marketplaces over the past year.

Online has been a big growth driver for Boots with sales via the channel soaring 25% in its last quarter, despite the wider slowdown in ecommerce across the retail sector.

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