Boots sold in £7bn deal to Canadian billionaire family

Boots, the quintessential British high street pharmacy and retailer that has served generations for decades, is set to enter its 178th year under new ownership following a £7bn takeover agreement reached this week.

The retail giant's new parent company is Wittington Investments, the holding vehicle of the Westons—a wealthy Canadian family deeply rooted in retail who previously owned Selfridges and currently operate several large retailers across North America. Their UK arm also controls Associated British Foods (ABF), the owner of Primark. Upgrading the portfolio of 1,800 stores across the UK ranks high on the new owners' agenda, though specific store redesign details remain undisclosed.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Business has thrived for Boots in recent years, bolstered by refreshed beauty halls in larger branches that offer a department store-like experience. Sofie Willmott, associate director and analyst at GlobalData Retail, notes that since launching its first beauty-only store in 2023 at Battersea Power Station, the brand has redesigned over 180 beauty halls, alongside a new fragrance concept store and a luxury eyewear opticians.

For shoppers like 22-year-old Yasmin Trimble, the appeal lies in the straightforward store layout. "You can get everything you need...it is not confusing. It has got a cleaner aesthetic to it as well," she says. Katie Burrows, 23, regularly builds up Advantage card points for discounts, though she and Yasmin feel sanitary products are overpriced. Meanwhile, Lewis Harrison praises the loyalty scheme's value while finding the restriction of redeeming points only on full transactions frustrating.