Boots mulling over sale of Aromatherapy Associates brand

Boots is reportedly looking for potential bidders to buy its personal care brand Aromatherapy Associates, according to Sky News.

The brand's founders Geraldine Howard and Sue Beechey started the company in 1985 after connecting with the emerging practice of aromatherapy in the early 1970s, with all of its products formulations created in its London-based laboratory.

The product range today extends from skincare products and candles to bespoke wellbeing consultations and is stocked across the UK and the US.

"We saw our engagement levels more than triple during that period of time [the beginning of the pandemic]. And yes our sales of our products have definitely gone through the roof. It’s very healthy, triple digit growth that we have been seeing," said Anna Teal, the brand's Global CEO & Global Business Development Director on an episode of TheIndustry.fashion's The Beauty Edit podcast in December 2020. 

The brand also gained B-Corp certification in 2020, was voted the worlds best aromatherapy brand four times and awarded UK Coolbrands status, while also entering global partnerships with the Mandarin Oriental and JW Marriott hotels.

Boots bought Aromatherapy Associates in 2014 and is now reportedly looking for potential bidders, however the financial details of any potential deal have not been revealed.

Sky News reported last week that the parent company of Boots was also considering putting the pharmacy chain on the market next year, with US retail giant Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) lining up advisers from Goldman Sachs to explore a potential sale of the pharmacy.