SALES hit £34bn at Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), the combined group between pharmacy chains Walgreens and Boots, in its last quarter.

Boots UK pharmacy sales lifted 11.4 per cent in the three months to 31 August, compared with the same period last year, signalling strong demand for pharmacy services, notably Covid-19 tests. At the same time, retail sales jumped 15 per cent.

The British pharmacy chain, like all high street stores, was knocked by a sudden drop in footfall last year, but levels have since climbed 35 per cent.

Boots.com sales have also more than doubled in comparison with levels seen prior to Covid-19.

Boots managing director Sebastian James said: "Looking ahead, both healthcare and beauty are growing markets as we exit the pandemic and Boots is now ideally placed to seize new opportunities in both these growing segments."

The group also used its sites to offer Covid-19 vaccinations in the UK and across the pond, which exceeded its goal and saw 13.5m jabs delivered.

Group chief executive officer Roz Brewer added that fourth quarter results had "exceeded expectations".

Net cash grew by some $70m (£51.1m) to $5.6bn for the combined group, while free cash flow came in at $4.2bn. WBA also enjoyed earnings per share jumping more than six 6.4 per cent in the period.

(c) 2021 City A.M., source Newspaper