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Boots UK’s pharmacy sales were up 5.4 per cent in the three months to June compared to the same period in 2024, its latest quarterly results show. 

Retail sales were up six per cent while Boots.com sales rose by 18.7 per cent year-on-year, parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance revealed yesterday (June 26) as it published its financial report for its third financial quarter. 

This strong showing from the UK multiple follows the publication in early June of its annual Companies House filing, which detailed that the sale of its employee pension scheme to Legal & General allowed it to turn a £211m profit in 2023-24.

Struggling US chain Walgreens managed to boost pharmacy sales by 11.8 per cent but suffered a blow to its retail sales as they dipped 2.4 per cent due to “weaker sales in grocery and household, health and wellness and beauty”. 

In the first nine months of its fiscal year, WBA – whose sale to a private equity firm is expected to conclude later this year – has made a net loss of $3.3bn compared to a net loss of $5.6bn at the same point in 2024. 

WBA chief executive Tim Wentworth said: “Third quarter results reflect continued improvement in our US Healthcare segment and benefits from our cost savings initiatives, while we continued to see weakness in our US front-end sales.

“We remain focused on our turnaround plan, which will require time, disciplined focus and a balanced approach to manage future cash needs with investments necessary to navigate an evolving pharmacy and retail environment.”

Because WBA is in the process of being acquired by equity firm Sycamore Partners, the usual quarterly results call with the company’s investors will not take place. 

On July 11, WBA shareholders will vote on whether to allow the merger with Sycamore to proceed.