Boots, the well-known UK pharmacy and beauty retailer, has announced plans to close 300 branches across the country within the next 12 months. The decision comes as part of a broader strategy by its parent company, Walgreens Boots Alliance, to optimize its locations.

The closures will not result in any job redundancies as employees will be offered employment at nearby Boots stores. Simultaneously, 150 Walgreens branches in the United States will also be shuttered over the same period.

While announcing the closures, Boots revealed positive third-quarter retail sales figures, reporting a year-on-year increase of 13.4% in the three months leading up to the end of May. The growth was primarily driven by higher customer volume as more people chose to shop at Boots, both in-store and online.

City centre flagship stores and travel locations experienced the most significant uplift in sales, while online sales saw a substantial year-on-year growth of 25.2%.

Notably, the beauty category performed exceptionally well, with sales surging by over 18%. The successful launch of Boots’ No7 Future Renew skincare range contributed significantly to this performance.

Boots stated in its results statement that it will continue to refurbish existing stores while consolidating branches that are in close proximity to each other over the next year. Following the closures, Boots will operate a total of 1,900 stores throughout the UK.

Seb James, the managing director of Boots UK and ROI, expressed satisfaction with the quarter’s performance, stating, “Our focus on offering our customers the best in healthcare and beauty, together with a continued commitment to great value, has been well received, and it is lovely to see more people choosing to shop with Boots. It is particularly pleasing to see our owned brands proving popular, including an exceptional No7 performance. I would like to thank all of our team members for their hard work in delivering these results.”

Boots’ decision to optimize its store locations reflects the changing retail landscape and the company’s commitment to providing an enhanced customer experience. As it moves forward with its strategy, Boots aims to maintain its position as a leading healthcare and beauty retailer in the UK market.