Boots (company)

File:Boots advert.jpg

Boots was established in 1849, by John Boot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/business/take-sneak-peek-inside-boots-2549470|title=Inside the Boots archives which reveals the company's incredible history|first=Matthew|last=Bunn|date=17 February 2019|website=nottinghampost}} After his father's death in 1860, Jesse Boot, aged 10, helped his mother run the family's herbal medicine shop in Nottingham,Viceira, L. M., & Mitusui, A. M. (2003) Pension Policy at The Boots Company PLC, Harvard Business Review, Havard Business School, 27 August 2003 which was incorporated as Boot and Co. Ltd in 1883, becoming Boots Pure Drug Company Ltd in 1888. In 1920, Jesse Boot sold the company to the American United Drug Company.{{cite web|url=http://www.bootslearningstore.com/about/history.php |title=Boots Learning Store |publisher=Boots Learning Store |date=4 December 1999}} However, because of deteriorating economic circumstances in North America Boots was sold back into British hands in 1933. The grandson of the founder, John Boot, who inherited the title Baron Trent from his father, headed the company.'Interwar retail internationalization: Boots under American ownership', The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 7(2), 1997 The Boots Pure Drug Company name was changed to The Boots Company Limited in 1971.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Between 1898 and 1966, many branches of Boots incorporated a lending library department, known as Boots Book-Lovers' Library.{{Cite web |last=CatieMux |date=26 January 2019 |title=The History of Boots Book-lovers' Libraries |url=https://booksbird.wordpress.com/2019/01/26/the-history-of-boots-book-lovers-libraries/ |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Books Bird |language=en}}

File:Boots UK (logo).svg

Boots diversified into the research and manufacturing of drugs with its development of the Ibuprofen painkiller during the 1960s, invented by John Nicholson and Stewart Adams.{{Cite web|last=Kindy|first=David|title=The Inventor of Ibuprofen Tested the Drug on His Own Hangover|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/inventor-ibuprofen-tested-drug-his-own-hangover-180975088/|access-date=3 July 2021|website=Smithsonian Magazine|language=en|quote=Stewart Adams and his associate John Nicholson invented a pharmaceutical drug known as 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid.}} The company was awarded the Queen's Award For Technical Achievement for this in 1987. A major research focus of Boots in the 1980s, was the drug for congestive heart failure, Manoplax.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/manoplax-from-heart-to-heartbreak-with-millions-lost-on-its-wonder-drug-patrick-hosking-asks-whether-1487095.html|title=Manoplax: from heart to heartbreak: With millions lost on its 'wonder|website=The Independent|date=25 July 1993|language=en-GB|access-date=13 April 2016}} The withdrawal from market of Manoplax due to safety concerns in 1993, caused major pressure from investors, and in 1994, Boots divested its prescription drugs division, which had become no longer viable, to BASF.{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3007/is_/ai_n28649801 |title=Boots is pacesetter for drug chains in the UK |publisher=Findarticles.com }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/15/business/company-news-boots-pharmaceuticals-unit-to-go-to-basf-of-germany.html|title=COMPANY NEWS; Boots Pharmaceuticals Unit To Go to BASF of Germany|date=15 November 1994|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=13 April 2016}} In 2006, it sold the Nurofen brand to Reckitt Benckiser.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2923472/Boots-sells-Nurofen-in-1.9bn-deal.html Boots sells Nurofen in £1.9bn deal] The Telegraph The 2006 sale of Boots Healthcare International included everything made by Crookes Healthcare, based on the Nottingham site.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In 1968, Boots acquired the 622-strong Timothy Whites and Taylors Ltd chain. Boots expanded into Canada by purchasing the Tamblyn Drugs chain circa 1978. Most Canadian Boots shops were converted to Pharma Plus in 1989, after sale to Oshawa Group, although a handful of locations remained as late as 1993, if not later.{{Citation needed|date=September 2012}} Boots products briefly surfaced in Canada when it was sold at the short-lived Target foray into Canada. In 1982, the company opened a new manufacturing plant in Cramlington, Northumberland. In the early 1990s, Boots began to diversify and bought Halfords, the bicycle and car parts business in 1991.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312064135/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article527856.ece And it's all thanks to a passion for a penny-farthing bicycle] The Times The company offered numerous private label products, e.g., offering the PT400 typewriter, a rebadged Silverette model by Silver Seiko Ltd. of Japan. It also developed the Children's World business of larger out of town superstores in the 1980s, but sold this chain to Mothercare in 1996.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2758468/Boots-in-childrenswear-pact-to-sell-Adams-range.html Boots in Childrenswear pact to sell Adams range] The Telegraph Halfords was sold in 2002.[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2002/jul/26/5 Boots sells Halfords] The Guardian

Boots Opticians Ltd was formed in 1987, with the acquisition of Clement Clarke Ltd and Curry and Paxton Ltd. Boots Opticians became the UK's second-largest retail optics chain. In 2009, Boots Opticians acquired Dollond & Aitchison, an optician chain that was founded in 1750.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Boots diversified into dentistry in 1998, with a number of shops offering this service.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/168340.stm |title=Boots to launch dental clinics |work=BBC News |date=10 September 1998}} Boots sold the Do-It-All DIY chain to Focus DIY in 1998.{{cite web|author=Gilleo, Ken |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-60770190 |title=Boots decides that for £68m Focus can do-it-all }} Boots also made a venture into "Wellbeing" services offering customers treatments ranging from facials, homoeopathy, and nutritional advice to laser eye surgery and Botox but these services were abandoned in 2003, despite a launch that included a dedicated Freeview and Sky TV channel of the same name, and even redirecting web traffic from boots.com to wellbeing.com{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/boots-ditches-wellbeing-strategy-to-return-to-its-roots-as-a-chemist-112739.html|title=Boots ditches Wellbeing strategy to return to its roots as a chemist|work=The Independent|date=28 March 2003|access-date=24 July 2021}}

File:Boots, Belfast, May 2013.JPG, Northern Ireland]]

In late 2004, Boots sold its laser eye surgery business to Optical Express.[http://www.opticianonline.net/Articles/2004/10/22/12845/Optical+Express+buys+Boots'+laser+business.htm Optical Express buys Boots laser business] Optician Online

In October 2005, a merger with Alliance UniChem was announced by the then chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd. The CEO Richard Baker left, and the new group became Alliance Boots plc. The merger became effective on 31 July 2006.{{cite news |title=Boots announces £7bn merger deal |work=BBC News |date=3 October 2005 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4303570.stm |access-date=29 May 2013}}

File:Boots store, Mullingar.png, Ireland]]

Alliance Boots was purchased by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Stefano Pessina, the deputy chairman of the company, in April 2007 for £11.1 billion, taking the company private and beating a rival bid from Guy Hands's Terra Firma Capital Partners.{{cite news|last1=Craven|first1=Neil|title=KKR Agrees to Buy Alliance Boots, Beating Guy Hands|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a6UHJIzPzX54|access-date=20 June 2014|work=Bloomberg|date=24 April 2007}} This was the first ever instance of a FTSE 100 company having been bought by a private equity firm. In June 2008, the group headquarters were moved to Zug, Switzerland. According to John Ralfe, Boots' former head of corporate finance, "the UK has lost about £100m a year in tax as result".{{cite news|last1=Lawrence|first1=Felicity|title=How Boots' Swiss move cost UK£100m a year|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/11/boots-switzerland-uk|access-date=20 June 2014|work=The Guardian|date=11 December 2010}}

'Boots the Chemists Limited' was re-registered under the name 'Boots UK Limited' on 1 October 2007.{{Cite web|title = BOOTS UK LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|url = https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00928555|website = beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|access-date = 28 December 2015}} Management of all staff was moved to Boots Management Services Limited on 1 July 2010.{{Cite web|title = Kanayati AND BOOTS|url = http://kanayatiandboots.blogspot.co.uk/|website = kanayatiandboots.blogspot.co.uk|access-date = 28 December 2015}}

In June 2012, it was announced that Walgreens, the United States' largest chemist chain, would purchase a 45% stake in Alliance Boots for US$6.7 billion. The deal was said to be a long-term plan to give maximum exposure to both brands, Boots more so in the US and, Walgreens more so in the UK and in China through Boots' presence in that market. The deal gave the option to complete a full merger of the organisations within three years costing an extra $9.5bn.{{cite news |title=Alliance Boots sells 45pc stake to Walgreens |author=Harry Wallop |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9341323/Alliance-Boots-sells-45pc-stake-to-Walgreens.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9341323/Alliance-Boots-sells-45pc-stake-to-Walgreens.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=19 June 2012 |access-date=28 May 2013}}{{cbignore}} Walgreens confirmed on 6 August 2014, that it would purchase the remaining 55% and merge with Alliance Boots to form a new holding company, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.{{cite news|title=Walgreens to buy up Alliance Boots|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28674140|access-date=24 October 2014|work=BBC News|date=6 August 2014}} Walgreens and Boots both become subsidiaries of the new company on 31 December 2014.

In August 2012, Boots began stocking convenience food products from Irish retailer Musgrave's SuperValu chain.{{cite web|last=Zuke |first=Elinor |url=http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/companies/symbols-and-buying-groups/musgrave/boots-turns-to-musgrave-after-waitrose-trial-flops/232078.article |title=Boots turns to Musgrave after Waitrose trial flops |work=The Grocer |date=30 August 2012 |access-date=6 February 2025}}

In April 2019, Boots announced it would sponsor the England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland women's football teams in a multi-million pound/euro deal. The deal was to last three years and cover the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Women's Euro 2021 competitions.{{cite news |date= 2 April 2019 |title= Boots to sponsor women's home nations and Republic of Ireland sides |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47777716 |work= BBC Sport |access-date= 5 April 2019}}File:Boots at Pondok Indah Mall 3.jpg in Jakarta]]In May 2019, Boots announced that it was closing 200+ underperforming shops.{{cite news |title=Boots review puts 200 stores at risk |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48435802 |access-date=5 July 2019 |date=28 May 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Jahshan |first1=Elias |title=Boots confirms plans to shut down 200 stores |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/07/boots-confirms-plans-to-shut-down-200-stores/ |website=Retail Gazette |access-date=5 July 2019 |date=1 July 2019}}

Profits for 2019, were £167 million, 47.3% less than in 2018. The company blamed "lower volume and lower revenue item growth and continuing UK government reimbursement pressure".{{cite news |title=Boots sees profits almost halve in 2019 |url=https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/20207996.article |access-date=10 July 2020 |publisher=Pharmaceutical Journal |date=26 May 2020}}

In July 2020, the group announced that it would be cutting 4,000 jobs and shutting 48 optician stores in the UK.{{Cite web|date=9 July 2020|access-date=9 July 2020|title=Boots announces plans to cut 4,000 jobs|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2020/0709/1152306-boots-job-cuts-in-uk/|work=RTÉ|language=en}}

Since September 2018, Sebastian James has been a senior vice president of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and president and managing director of Boots.

In November 2020, Boots Ireland appointed Stephen Watkins as managing director for Ireland, succeeding Bernadette Lavery who has been appointed director of pharmacy with Boots UK.{{Cite news|last=Slattery|first=Laura|title=Boots Ireland appoints Stephen Watkins as new MD|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/boots-ireland-appoints-stephen-watkins-as-new-md-1.4419325|access-date=26 November 2020|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}}

In November 2024, Anthony Hemmerdinger was appointed the new Managing Director of both the UK and Ireland.{{Cite web |last=Buccheri |first=Rory |date=2024-09-12 |title=Boots UK appoints new managing director Anthony Hemmerdinger |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/boots-uk-appoints-new-managing-director-anthony-hemmerdinger/695416.article |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=The Grocer |language=en}}

In December 2024, it was reported that Sycamore Partners were lined up to acquire Walgreens Boots Alliance in early 2025.

Boots sell the following products and services:

• Prescription medicines sold via their pharmacies
• Retail (non-prescription) medicines
• Wide range of health and beauty products including related electrical products (hairdryers, shavers, electric toothbrushes)
• Photography – Boots is an established provider of photography services.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/boots-close-220-320-store-9943632|title=Boots to close over half its photo labs putting up to 400 jobs at risk|first=Kalyeena|last=Makortoff|date=1 March 2017|website=Daily Mirror}} Traditionally the shops offered photographic processing services, but with the shift from film to digital photography, the shops now include kiosk printing services.
• Clothing – baby and toddler ranges and maternity wear.
• Food and drink (branded as Boots Delicious) – most branches sell lunchtime food and drink products which are available as part of a "Meal Deal" promotion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/jun/26/supermarket-meal-deals-lunchtime-offers-good-value|title=Do supermarket meal deals cut the mustard?|last=Hickey|first=Shane|date=27 June 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=14 April 2016}}
• Opticians
• Hearing care
• Mental health – in 2022, Boots launched Depression & Anxiety Treatment on their Online Doctor service which offers treatments for depression and anxiety for £65 per month. This includes a GP consultation and access to medicines. There is also a "SupportRoom" offering psychological support by text message or video for £40 per month and a "symptom checker" questionnaire for patients, which is reviewed by a mental health professional.{{cite news |title=Boots to provide mental health care service for £65 per month |url=https://pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/news/boots-to-provide-mental-health-care-service-for-65-per-month |access-date=22 April 2022 |publisher=Pharmaceutical Journal |date=2 March 2022}}

File:Leeds Bradford Airport (27th April 2025) 009.jpg.]]

As of 2023, Walgreens Boots Alliance run 2,561 Boots branded stores across three countries:{{cite web |title=Retail Pharmacy International |url=https://www.walgreensbootsalliance.com/our-business/retail-pharmacy-international |website=Walgreens Boots Alliance |date= 2023 |access-date=2 October 2023 |quote="Our principal retail brands are Boots in the UK, Thailand, and the Republic of Ireland," |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824220246/https://www.walgreensbootsalliance.com/our-business/international-segment |archive-date=24 August 2023 |url-status=live }}

• United Kingdom: 2,232
• Thailand: 237
• Ireland: 92

The Alshaya Group, a franchise operator based in Kuwait, operates a number of Boots-branded stores throughout the Middle East, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,{{cite web |title=Boots |url=https://www.alshaya.com/en/brands/pharmacy/boots/ |website=Alshaya Group |access-date=30 March 2020}} while Boots-branded stores throughout Indonesia are operated by PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk.{{Cite web |title=MAP to Open BOOTS Stores in Indonesia |url=https://www.map.co.id/map-to-open-boots-stores-in-indonesia/ |access-date=14 November 2023 |website=Mitra Adiperkasa |language=en-US |no-pp=y}}

{{more citations needed section|date=February 2018}}

{{main|Boots Factory Site}}

File:Boots, Beeston - D6 building - geograph.org.uk - 680837.jpg]]

The Boots Factory Site, near the Nottingham suburb of Beeston, features a number of listed buildings. This includes the two principal factory buildings, D6 and D10, designed by Sir Owen Williams and built in 1932, and 1935–1938, respectively. Both are Grade I listed.{{NHLE|num=1278028 |grade=I |desc=Building D6 at Boots Factory Site|access-date=6 February 2018}}{{NHLE|num=1247927 |grade=I |desc=Building D10 at Boots Factory Site |access-date=6 February 2018 |fewer-links=yes}} The former fire station of 1938, D34, is also by Williams{{cite book |last1=Pevsner |first1=Nikolaus |last2=Williamson |first2=Elizabeth |last3= Hartwell |first3=Clare |date=2020 |title=The Buildings of England. Nottinghamshire |publisher=Yale University Press |page=126 |isbn=9780300247831}} and is Grade II listed.{{NHLE |num=1247933 |grade=II |desc=Building D34 (fire station) at Boots Factory Site |access-date=26 December 2020}} The headquarters office building known as D90 is Grade II* and was built to designs by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1966–68.{{NHLE|num=1268303 |grade=II* |desc=Boots D90 West Headquarters Building |access-date=6 February 2018|fewer-links=yes}}

Staff have a restaurant, coffee and snack shops, newsagent, a branch of Boots the Chemist, an opticians branch and cash point situated within landscaped grounds. The grounds include the Millennium Garden, which features a herb garden (with some plants that Jesse Boot used in his original herbal remedies) in the shape of a goose foot – harking back to Jesse's original shop on Goose Gate, Nottingham.

The Boots Museum is now closed; however, historical items are in storage or on display in the reception area of the D90 building.

{{criticism section|date=March 2024}}

Professor Chris Griffiths' University of Manchester team found the Serum, formerly, No. 7{{cite news |title=A brief history of Boots No7 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2012/apr/16/brief-history-of-no7-boots |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=16 April 2012 |language=en}} Refine & Rewind Beauty Serum stimulated the production of fibrillin-1 and appeared to smooth out wrinkles, (published in the British Journal of Dermatology).{{cite news |title='Proof' face creams beat wrinkles |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8022644.stm |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=BBC News |date=28 April 2009}}{{cite news |last1=Sample |first1=Ian |title=Boots anti-wrinkle cream actually works, say researchers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/apr/28/boots-protect-perfect-anti-wrinkle-cream |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=28 April 2009 |language=en}} In 2007, an independent investigation by the BBC's Horizon programme caused a run on a product in the same product range after it was found to be the only one to have a beneficial effect.{{cite news |title=Sold out: The £17 cream even scientists say can banish wrinkles |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/sold-out-the-ps17-cream-even-scientists-say-can-banish-wrinkles-7191293.html |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=13 April 2012 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Chandler |first1=Victoria |title=The brand new No7 product that had a 10,000-person waiting list |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/beauty/skincare/a568183/no7-new-serum-restore-renew/ |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=Good Housekeeping |date=11 April 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Lesley |last2=Baggott |first2=Nadine |title=Is Boots No 7 retinol cream a £34 skincare miracle? Our beauty experts' guide to the products that work |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/beauty/article/is-boots-no-7-retinol-cream-a-skincare-miracle-plus-beauty-expert-best-products-mlvfnzl78 |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=The Times |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Early rush for anti-ageing cream |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6623709.stm |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=BBC News |date=4 May 2007}}{{cite news |last1=Haria |first1=Sonia |title=5 years younger? We take an exclusive look at the latest £38 wrinkle serum by No7 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/skin/5-years-younger-take-exclusive-look-latest-38-wrinkle-serum/ |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=telegraph.co.uk |date=11 April 2018}}{{cite magazine |last1=March |first1=Bridget |title=No7's new serums launch today to a waiting list of 37, 000 people |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/skincare/a27096393/no7-new-booster-serums/ |access-date=3 September 2022 |magazine=Harper's BAZAAR |date=10 April 2019}} Richard Weller, an Edinburgh University dermatologist, said it was unlikely to be as effective as prescription retinoids.{{cite news |last1=Carragher |first1=Margaret |title=Can a €30 cream really turn back the clock? |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20276712.html |access-date=3 September 2022 |work=Irish Examiner |date=27 July 2014 |language=en}}

In 2009, Boots Superintendent Pharmacist Paul Bennett was interviewed by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee about the company's sale of homeopathic medicines. He told the committee that the company had no evidence to suggest that homeopathic medicines are efficacious but Boots sold them anyway, for reasons of "consumer choice".{{cite web|url= https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/45/09112506.htm|title= Commons Science and Technology Committee Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy |date=25 November 2009}} The comments attracted media attention.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6658864/Boots-we-sell-homeopathic-remedies-because-they-sell-not-because-they-work.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/6658864/Boots-we-sell-homeopathic-remedies-because-they-sell-not-because-they-work.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Boots: 'we sell homeopathic remedies because they sell, not because they work'|author=Ben Leach|work=The Telegraph|date=26 November 2009 }}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/142635/Homeopathic-medicines-don-t-work|title='Homeopathic medicines don't work'|author=Julia White|work=express.co.uk|date=26 November 2009}}

In 2010, protesters staged a mass homeopathy "overdose" outside Boots shops.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/mass-overdose-staged-in-homeopathic-protest-1884019.html|title=Boots director on homeopathy and the top 10 Gerald Ratner moments | author=Margaret Davis | work=The Independent|date=30 January 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/29/sceptics-homeopathy-mass-overdose-boots|title= Homeopathy protesters to take 'mass overdose' outside Boots | author=Sam Jones | work=The Guardian|date=29 January 2010}}

In April 2016, the Pharmacists' Defence Association stated that company managers were exploiting the NHS by insisting that each outlet carry out medicine use reviews, even if patients did not need them. The NHS paid £28 per review up to a maximum of 400 per shop per year.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/13/boots-staff-under-pressure-to-milk-the-nhs-says-pharmacists-union|title=Boots staff under pressure to milk the NHS for cash, says pharmacists' union|author=Aditya Chakrabortty|work=Guardian newspapers|date=13 April 2016|access-date=13 April 2016}} The Guardian said that the General Pharmaceutical Council was poised to investigate.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/17/boots-regulator-investigation-general-pharmaceutical-council-nhs|title=Boots could face regulator's investigation after Guardian report |work=Guardian newspapers|first=Aditya|last=Chakrabortty|date=17 April 2016|access-date=17 April 2016}}{{needs update|date=March 2024}}

At the same time as the article about medicine reviews, The Guardian published a longer report on the same day called 'How Boots went Rogue', which told the story from the eyes of a Boots pharmacist talking about working conditions at the company. It also covered the buyout of the company and the owners' financial approach.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/13/how-boots-went-rogue|title=How Boots went Rogue|work=The Guardian|date=13 April 2016}} Four days later it published an article with emails from some pharmacists who had written about how "the chain allegedly compels staff to compromise ethics for targets". The article said "The letters editor believes this may be the largest haul of mail he has ever received about a single article. Others rang in."{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/17/yours-a-stressed-pharmacist-boots-article-prompts-flood-of-letters|title=Yours, a stressed pharmacist: Boots article prompts flood of letters|work=The Guardian|date=17 April 2016}}

There were two further follow-up articles in the days following.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/19/the-guardian-view-on-boots-sick-staff-a-healthcare-business-and-the-public-purse|title=The Guardian view on Boots: sick staff, a healthcare business and the public purse|work=The Guardian|date=19 April 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/27/bhs-boots-corporations-workers-philip-green-shareholder-power|title=BHS, Boots … our misbehaving corporations need their wings clipped|work=The Guardian|date=27 April 2016}} The Guardian subsequently noted a letter purporting to be from an "independent pharmacist" criticising its stance on the issue which it identified as having been edited and amended by one of the firm's vice-presidents. The letter was emailed as a Word document and contained tracked changes.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/29/boots-investigation-independent-pharmacists-letter-edited-by-head-office|title='Independent' pharmacist's letter edited by Boots' owner|work=The Guardian|date=29 April 2016|access-date=29 April 2016}}

Following the Guardian reports, Boots announced the departure of UK operations director, Simon Roberts, in June 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jun/09/boots-uk-boss-simon-roberts-quits|title=Boots UK boss Simon Roberts quits|author=Zoe Wood|work=Guardian newspapers|date=9 June 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jun/12/new-boots-boss-offers-chance-to-change|title=New Boots boss offers chance to change|work=Guardian newspapers|date=9 June 2016}}

On 8 January 2018, the BBC broadcast an Inside Out documentary called "Boots: Pharmacists under Pressure?" about the deaths of three patients following dispensing errors. It also featured accounts from three whistleblowers, who alleged that there were staffing issues at the company. One of the whistleblowers, who had formerly worked in a patient safety role, stated that Boots had calculated that in excess of £100m additional investment in staffing was required each year in its pharmacies and to meet the company's expectations of its staff.{{cite news|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09m6rfl|title=Boots: Pharmacists under Pressure?|publisher=BBC|date=8 January 2018}} The BBC also published two articles on the same day.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/boots-inside-out|title=Some Boots pharmacists claim they are at 'breaking point'|publisher=BBC|date=8 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-41468171|title=Boots pharmacists raise staffing concerns|publisher=BBC News|date=8 January 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://subsaga.com/bbc/factual/inside-out/30-boots-pharmacists-under-pressure.html|title=Boots: Pharmacists under Pressure? Inside Out subtitles|work=Subsaga|date=8 January 2018}}

A separate article almost three weeks later told the story of a patient who was given the wrong medicine in December 2017 by a "frazzled" pharmacist. The patient said there was clearly a staffing problem.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-42735588|title='Frazzled' Boots pharmacist mixed up patient's pills|publisher=BBC News|date=27 January 2018}}

Boots had told the BBC documentary makers that there had been no further patient deaths associated with dispensing errors since 2015. However, in July 2018, it was reported that an error had occurred in 2016 in which two lots of the same medicines were dispensed and supplied to the same patient, Richard Lee, who subsequently died. The error was found at a coroner's inquest to have contributed to his death.{{cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-44737993 |title= Boots pharmacy drugs mistake contributed to death|publisher=BBC News|date=6 July 2018}}{{cite web|url= https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/prescription-mix-up-ought-not-to-have-happened-doncaster-man-s-inquest-hears-1-9227062 |title= Prescription mix-up 'ought not to have happened,' Doncaster man's inquest hears|author=Sarah Marshall|work=Doncaster Free Press|date=28 June 2018}}

In July 2017, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) revealed that Boots was selling emergency contraceptive medication at four times the cost price and had refused requests to join rival pharmacy retail chains, including Superdrug and Tesco, which had agreed to cease profiting financially in this way.{{cite web|url=http://www.justsaynon.org.uk|work=British Pregnancy Advisory Service website|title=Just Say Non|access-date=21 July 2017}} In a written response to BPAS, Boots revealed that they were frequently contacted by individuals who disapproved of the dispensing of such medication, which might be viewed as "incentivising inappropriate use",{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/boots-emergency-contraception-morning-after-pill-feminism-women-inequality-inappropriate-a7849521.html|work=The Independent|title=Boots is charging women high rates for the morning after pill because they think we might use it 'inappropriately' if it's cheap|first=Laura|last=Bates|date=20 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40676534|work=BBC News|title=Boots faces morning-after pill cost row|date=21 July 2017}} an assertion which campaigners described as "insulting and sexist".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/20/boots-faces-boycott-over-refusal-to-lower-cost-of-morning-after-pill|work=The Guardian|title=Boots faces boycott over refusal to lower cost of morning-after pill|first=Nicola|last=Slawson|date=20 July 2017}}

BPAS called on the public to boycott the company and email them requesting that they reverse the policy. Following the boycott's launch, lawyers representing Boots alleged that the online complaint form created by BPAS had resulted in a "torrent of abuse" to five of Boots' senior managers and that BPAS had facilitated and tacitly encouraged harassment by naming individual staff members on the form. In response, BPAS stated that Boots had "failed to provide any evidence of abuse sent through the campaign".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41121338|work=BBC News|title=Boots staff 'harassed' by morning-after pill campaigners|date=1 September 2017}} In November 2017, more than 130 Labour politicians signed a letter criticising Boots' failure to fulfil its promise to stock a low-cost alternative in its shops by October.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42011279|work=BBC News|title=Boots 'breaking' morning-after pill promise, say Labour MPs|date=16 November 2017}} At the end of January 2018, Boots confirmed that it was now offering the cheaper medication in all of its pharmacies.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42860914|work=BBC News|title=Boots rolls out cheaper morning-after pill across UK|date=29 January 2018}}

Throughout the media coverage, a May–July 2017, pricelist from its wholesaler and sister company Alliance Healthcare stated that the "Normal Retail Price inc. VAT" of Levonelle One Step was £12.72.{{cite web|url=https://direct.alliance-healthcare.co.uk/uni2/docs/medicaldirectory_may17.pdf|work=Alliance Healthcare website|title=Product Medical Directory}}

On 25 October 2017, a debate was held in the House of Commons about pharmacists' mental health and the support that employers give to employees. Much of the discussion concerned the suicide of a Boots pharmacist, Alison Stamps, in May 2015, and Boots' response was criticised. Part of a letter from Alison Stamps' parents was read out by MP Kevan Jones, which said: "It is clear that Alison was a victim of corporate greed and collateral damage by an uncaring company intent only on its own agenda."{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-10-25/debates/0F49DF34-CFEF-425C-AF94-57FDE472553B/MentalHealthPharmacists|title=Mental Health: Pharmacists - House of Commons Debate|date=25 October 2017}}{{primary-inline|date=March 2024}}

In February 2018, Boots was criticised for charging excessive prices for low-value products supplied to the NHS: in one case, it was found that the pharmacy was billing in excess of £1,500 for a moisturiser which normally retailed at less than £2.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/nhs-forced-to-pay-1-500-for-2-pot-of-moisturiser-3d0ckn3gh|work=The Times|title=NHS forced to pay £1,500 for £2 pot of moisturiser|first=Paul|last=Morgan-Bentley|date=2 February 2018}}{{subscription required}} In May 2018, a further investigation by The Times found that on at least five occasions between 2013 and 2017, Boots had charged over £3,200 for a medicinal mouthwash used to treat mouth ulcers in chemotherapy patients, in comparison to an independent supplier which had charged the equivalent of £93 for the same product. The investigation found that Boots had ordered the product from Alliance Healthcare, a supplier owned by Boots' parent company. In response, a spokesman for Walgreens Boots Alliance rejected accusations of overcharging the NHS and said that the bespoke nature of the orders, often requested at short notice, results in the high cost.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/boots-faces-inquiry-over-cancer-drug-price-hike-98lqx52s9|work=The Times|title=Boots faces inquiry over cancer drug price hike|first1=Paul|last1=Morgan-Bentley|first2=Billy|last2=Kenber|date=25 May 2018}}{{subscription required}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44263620|work=BBC News|title=Boots owner denies overcharging NHS for cancer mouthwash|date=25 May 2018}}

• Pharmaceutical industry in the United Kingdom

{{reflist}}

• Roberts, Cecil (1966) Achievement: a record of fifty years' progress of Boots Pure Drug Company Ltd London: Boots Pure Drug Company Ltd

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• {{Official website}}
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