British high street pharmacy and retailer Boots has been sold to the Westons, a Canadian billionaire family, in a £7bn deal. Entering its 178th year, the company faces potential changes under its new owners, Wittington Investments, who plan to upgrade stores, double down on the Advantage loyalty card, and expand healthcare services.
The stalwart of Britain’s high streets has been sold to Wittington Investments, the holding company of the Westons—a wealthy and retail-steeped Canadian family previously owning Selfridges and holding current ownership of several large retailers across the Atlantic. In the UK, the family also controls Associated British Foods (ABF), the owner of Primark.
Wittington Investments Plans Upgrades Across 1,800 Stores
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Since launching its first beauty-only store in 2023 at Battersea Power Station, Boots has redesigned over 180 beauty halls, opened a fragrance concept store, and launched an Opticians branch dedicated to luxury eyewear. Upgrading its portfolio of 1,800 stores ranks high on the agenda for Wittington Investments, though specific future store designs have not yet been disclosed. Business has been solid for Boots recently, bolstered by new-look beauty areas in larger shops that offer customers a department store atmosphere, according to Sofie Willmott, associate director and analyst at GlobalData Retail.
Jackie Naghten, a retail industry veteran with experience at Top Shop, Marks & Spencer, and Debenhams, argues that stores need increased functionality by avoiding setups where health hubs are squeezed into corners. Conversely, 22-year-old regular shopper Yasmin Trimble appreciates the layout simplicity, noting that the stores maintain a clean aesthetic and make movement easy.
Wittington Investments Targets Loyalty Card And Health Services
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Launched in 1997, the Advantage loyalty card provides shoppers with three points per pound spent, with each point valued at 1p. The card remains popular and is viewed by industry experts as a vital corporate asset. Naghten notes that the card provides the best value store card returns for consumers, and retail expert Natalie Berg, founder of consultancy NBK Retail, suggests it gives Boots a unique understanding of customer habits that new owners will want to double down on as digital retail evolves.
Tracing its roots back to an apothecary, the retailer currently delivers a wide array of wellbeing services, prescriptions, and vaccinations via in-store pharmacies, alongside recently announced expansions for weight-loss drugs. Alongside retail operations, Wittington Investments has already signalled intentions to expand Boots’ healthcare services. Naghten emphasizes that the acquisition aligns with an industry transition where pharmacies take on more prescribing duties to alleviate pressure on hospitals and GP surgeries.
Boots faces competition from online influencer-driven shopping, rival chain Superdrug, and a newly announced partnership between M&S and Sephora that will replace a hundred beauty departments next year, despite its health sector reputation and strong No7 make-up and skincare lines.
