Boots owner WBA reaffirms plans for retailer as it unveils revamped Edinburgh store

Boots owner Walgreens Boots Alliance has reaffirmed its plans for the British retailer, branding it as "very important" to the business.

The firm, which dismissed plans to sell Boots last month, will continue to invest in the high street chain, according to The Sunday Times.

It comes after WBA recently signed off a three-year investment plan that will total hundreds of millions of pounds. This is on top of the £527 million it has invested in Boots over the past three years.

Ornella Barra, Chief Operating Officer of International at WBA, told The Sunday Times: "Boots is very important for Walgreens. It’s in a very good position in the market, so at the moment, the best solution is for Boots to remain part of the group. Walgreens will continue to support Boots to remain number one in the UK market. At the right time, who knows… it’s important to be open to everything."

A key focus for the health and beauty retailer will be continuing to revamp its store estate, having already introduced new beauty halls or healthcare departments in 450 of its larger stores, with plans to upgrade a further 70 stores this year and 100 more next year.

Anthony Hemmerdinger, Retail Director at Boots, said: "We would accept that not all our stores are at the standard we want them to be, but we have an aspiration to have a great Boots store in every town and no stores that we are ashamed of."

It comes as Boots unveils its fully refurbished store on Princes Street in Edinburgh. Originally built in 1912, the store has been transformed and redesigned to feature the retailer's latest beauty hall concept with new and updated beauty counters.

It is also home to 12 new premium beauty and haircare brands including Kylie Cosmetics, Sol de Janerio, Caudalie, Philip Kingsley and Fenty Beauty, as well as familiar favourites such as No7, Liz Earle, Soap & Glory and Boots own-brand.

The healthcare space in the store has also been reinvented, with a new look pharmacy. Located on the first floor, the area includes a new dispensary and two new private consultation rooms, allowing the retailer to offer more healthcare services than ever before, including Scotland’s first 'World of Hearing' area.

Kirsten Darling, Store Manager at Boots, said: "We are delighted to unveil our new and refurbished store to the local community.

"The refurbished store really is a one stop shop for health and beauty at the heart of Edinburgh, and we are so proud to continue serving the community on such an iconic and well-known street. We have lots of exciting new beauty brands, revamped health and beauty areas, as well as expert advice and services available."