Boots (company)

Boots the Chemist, is a well-known retail pharmacy and health and beauty retailer in the United Kingdom and several other countries. 

Boots Belfast By Ardfern - Own work,

Devout Methodist John Boot opened his first store at 6 Goose Gate, Nottingham in 1849. Originally working as a farm worker, Boot was forced by ill health to change careers and set up a small shop called The British and American Botanic Establishment to sell medicinal herbal remedies, Although he had no formal qualification, Boot had learned the skills from his mother and from the Methodist book, Primitive Physic by John Wesley.

The shop is listed in the 1853 Directory of Nottinghamshire as a medical botanist. 

Upon the passing of John Boot on May 30, 1860, his wife Mary assumed control of the family business, renaming it as M & J Boot, Herbalists.

Their young son Jesse, (June 2, 1850 –June 13,1931) played a vital role in its operations. Collaborating with his mother and drawing upon the knowledge imparted by his father, Jesse took charge of herb collection and shop management. Jesse gathered herbs from nearby fields-their intended customers were the urban poor who, with no National Health Service, could not afford to pay a doctor.

Jesse Boot's true aspiration was to expand the enterprise. Recognizing the significance of procuring stock in bulk to reduce costs for his clientele, Jesse embraced the motto "Health for a Shilling," remaining loyal to his father's original mission of delivering affordable healthcare to the community. In 1877, he opened his first chemist's shop in Nottingham. 

As sales surged, Jesse successfully expanded his enterprise both on Goose Gate and in Nottingham. In a pivotal moment in 1884, he achieved a significant breakthrough by inaugurating his initial stores in nearby towns, including Lincoln and Sheffield. Concurrently, he hired his first qualified pharmacist to dispense medicines, marking a crucial step in the evolution of the business.

In 1892, Jesse Boot began large-scale drug manufacture, and soon after the beginning of the 20th century was controlling the largest pharmaceutical retail trade in the world, with over a thousand branches by 1931.

Jesse Boot in 1909 by Noel Denholm Davis

Jesse Boot sold Boots the Chemist to the United Drug Company of America in 1920. However, due to deteriorating economic conditions in North America, the company was sold back into British hands in 1933. The grandson of the founder, John Boot, who inherited the title Baron Trent from his father, headed the company.

Boots launched its No7 own-brand beauty range in 1935, with 11 products focusing on skincare. The name was chosen because seven was often used to denote perfection.

Boots was the first pharmacy chain to introduce self-service stores in the UK. Their first self-service store was opened in Burnt Oak, Edgware in London in 1951.

Boots launched its first nationwide repeat prescription service, known as the "Boots Repeat Prescription Service," in the United Kingdom in 1987. This service was a significant development in the pharmacy industry and aimed to make it more convenient for customers to manage their repeat prescriptions.

In 2006, Boots merged with Alliance UniChem to form Alliance Boots. This merger created one of the largest pharmaceutical wholesalers and retail pharmacy chains in Europe.

In 2012, Walgreens, a major American pharmacy retail chain, acquired a 45% stake in Alliance Boots. This eventually led to the formation of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a global pharmacy-led health and well-being enterprise. In 2019, Walgreens Boots Alliance became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

Today Boots is the largest pharmacy chain in the UK, with over 2,200 stores. Boots also has a large online presence, and offers a wide range of products and services.

Boots operates not only in the UK but also has a presence in several other countries, including Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, and Thailand.