Boots has a happy Christmas
Like-for-like sales grew by more than 4 per cent at Nottingham-headquartered health chain Boots, the retailer has revealed.
Alliance Boots said its UK retail division was boosted by sales of beauty and cosmetic gift sets.
Executive chairman Stefano Pessina said: "Overall the group performed strongly in the quarter, driven by our differentiated product offering, excellent customer care and service, our transformational programmes and international expansion.
"We are very pleased with our progress and, as a result, remain on track to deliver our 2011/12 operational and financial targets."
But he added: "Looking to 2012, we expect the economic environment to remain tough with continuing pressure on both consumer and governmental expenditure."
Boots said like-for-like sales grew by 4.1 per cent in the five weeks to 31 December 2011. Its pharmaceutical wholesale division enjoyed a revenue boost of 21.3 per cent - the equivalent of 1.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis.
Alliance Boots, which has about 75,000 staff, was taken private in 2007 following a £11.1bn turnover.
