Boots introduces new On The Go travel store at Belfast Airport

Boots is debuting a new travel format store, 'Boots On The Go', at Belfast International Airport, designed to make shopping for its health, beauty and wellness products quicker and more convenient.

The store, which is the first-of-its-kind, has been designed with a new intuitive layout featuring clearly defined quick-find zones that are meant to offer more convenience for shoppers who are travelling.

It will also introduce a curated beauty range, bringing more than 15 beauty brands to the airport for the first time, including Sundae, Daise, Byoma, Medicube and HABI skincare, alongside popular Korean beauty brands such as Beauty of Joseon, Biodance and Anua.

Boots said the new location will "bring a high street quality shopping experience" to the airport, which will also offer a click & collect service.

Julie Murphy, Vice President of London & Travel Division at Boots, said: "We’re proud to bring our first new Boots On The Go concept to Belfast International, designed specifically for customers on the move. From trending beauty brands to essential travel products, these stores offer a carefully curated range, making it easy and enjoyable for customers to browse and find everything they need before they fly.

"We know customers want great value when travelling, so we’re committed to offering a wide variety of deals and promotions, alongside competitive pricing in our stores, so passengers can shop with confidence while on the go."

Dan Owens, Chief Executive, Belfast International Airport, added: "We’re thrilled to be the first to introduce the Boots on the go concept, bringing something new to our passengers at Belfast International.

"Retail plays a key role in shaping the overall journey through the airport, and additions like this help us continue to evolve what we offer and ensure it aligns with what our passengers value."

This is just the latest instance of the health and beauty retailer investing in its beauty and wellness credentials. In May, it further added to its portfolio, opening its second beauty-only concept store at Cabot Circus in Bristol.

The 11,000 sq ft location carries more than 200 beauty brands across skincare, haircare, fragrance, cosmetics, wellness and electrical beauty categories, and is the retailer's first standalone beauty concept outside London, following its 2023 launch at Battersea Power Station.

Boots today operates over 1,800 stores across Britain, selling health and beauty products as well as pharmacy services.

As Boots continues to explore a potential sale, Australian pharmacy group Sigma Healthcare confirmed that it had pulled out over talks, following "preliminary discussions".

TheIndustry.beauty also previously reported that Boots held talks with the Canadian branch of the billionaire Weston family, which owns the majority of grocery chain Loblaws.

It is understood that Boots parent company Sycamore is still considering a potential initial public offering (IPO) for the retail giant on the London stock market.

Initial reports in April revealed that Boots and Sycamore had hired consultants on a strategic overhaul in preparation for a possible London listing in 2027.

The advisors had also been tasked with exploring growth initiatives across the beauty and wellness sectors.

The latest reports also follow the appointment of a new CEO for Boots, announced in May. Alex Baldock, the former Currys boss, was confirmed to be joining Boots as Chief Executive in the autumn. The appointment was considered to be a further milestone in the retailer's ongoing business transformation.