Business · Companies · 2 days ago
Boots’ new owner plans store upgrades and healthcare expansion
Boots has a new owner: Wittington Investments, the holding company of the Canadian Weston family.
The family has retail interests in several countries, and its UK branch controls Associated British Foods, which owns Primark.
Wittington has made upgrading Boots’ 1,800 stores a priority, but it has not said what the changes will look like.
Boots has already redesigned more than 180 beauty halls and opened specialist beauty and fragrance stores.
Its Advantage loyalty card, which gives customers three points for every pound spent, is popular and is expected to remain; each point is worth 1p.
The new owners have also signalled plans to expand Boots’ healthcare services, including services offered through its pharmacies.
These changes could affect how customers shop and access health services at Boots, but further details have not been announced.
Boots’ new owners, Wittington Investments, have made upgrades to its 1,800 stores a priority.
The owners have also signalled plans to expand the retailer’s healthcare services.
Retail analysts say some smaller stores need investment and a more consistent design.
Boots offers pharmacy services, prescriptions and vaccinations, and has expanded services for weight-loss drugs.
Its Advantage card, launched in 1997, gives shoppers three points for every pound spent.
- Who
- Wittington Investments, the holding company of the Weston family, is Boots’ new owner.
- What
- The owners plan to upgrade Boots stores and expand healthcare services.
- When
- The article was published on 9 October 2026. The date of the ownership change is not stated.
- Where
- Boots stores in the UK.
- Why
- The owners’ reasons are not stated. Analysts say some stores need investment, while healthcare services are a growing area.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Boots launched its Advantage card.
Boots opened its first beauty-only store at the Battersea Power Station development.
Boots announced an expansion of services for weight-loss drugs.
The BBC reported that Boots’ new owners had signalled plans to upgrade stores and expand healthcare services.
- Owner
- Wittington Investments
- Store portfolio
- 1,800 stores
- Advantage card launch
- 1997
- Advantage card points
- 3 points per pound spent
- First beauty-only store
- Battersea Power Station development, 2023
What people are saying
They should invest in the rest of the chain because they've got such a big store portfolio that I think some of the smaller stores have really lacked investment over time, and I think that is something that they need to kind of catch up with
It's the best-value store card in terms of bang for your buck.
As AI and social media change how people discover and buy products, that direct relationship with customers will only become more important.
Sources
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