Alliance Boots operations are split into two areas, pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution. The Group also has a stand-alone contract manufacturing business called BCM and increasingly develops and internationalises its product brands.[11]
Health and Beauty Retail
Boots UK
Boots UK formed the main retail business of Alliance Boots in the United Kingdom, and all former Alliance Pharmacy branches were rebranded as Boots. The Boots brand has a history stretching back over 160 years and is a familiar sight on Britain's high streets. Boots stores are located in prominent high street and city centre locations as well as in local communities. Most branches include a pharmacy, and focus on healthcare, personal care and cosmetic products, with most stores selling over the counter medicines.
Larger stores typically offer a variety of healthcare services in addition to dispensing prescriptions, such as flu vaccination, cholesterol screening, weight loss advice, hair retention treatment, smoking cessation advice and products, and chlamydia testing & treatment (private service). Optician services are also offered in many larger stores, with Boots Opticians providing eye tests along with the sale of spectacles and contact lenses.
Many stores also feature traditional photo processing and/or a Kodak picture kiosk where users of digital cameras and camera phones can create prints. Larger stores usually offer a range of electrical equipment such as hairdryers, curlers and foot massagers, whilst selected stores offer a range of sandwiches, baguettes, wraps, salads and beverages.
Boots operates a loyalty card programme, the Boots Advantage Card, and claims to have 17.8 million regular users.[12]
Internationally
Since 1936, there have been Boots stores outside the UK. Stores in countries as widely spread as New Zealand, Canada (see Pharma Plus) and France were all closed in the 1980s. Today, there are Boots branded stores in several countries including the UK, Norway, Ireland, The Netherlands, Thailand, as well as the Middle East.
Much of the Irish chain was acquired by purchasing Hayes Conyngham Robinson in 1998,[13] although Boots had been present in Ireland prior to this. In 2013/2014, there were 76 stores in the Republic.[14] In July 2011, an investigation by Ireland's National Consumer Agency found Boots to be the most expensive pharmacy for prescription drugs.[15]
In other countries (including Kuwait, Hong Kong, and the US), Boots products are sold from instore 'implants' in department stores and other pharmacies.
Boots UK
Boots UK formed the main retail business of Alliance Boots in the United Kingdom, and all former Alliance Pharmacy branches were rebranded as Boots. The Boots brand has a history stretching back over 160 years and is a familiar sight on Britain's high streets. Boots stores are located in prominent high street and city centre locations as well as in local communities. Most branches include a pharmacy, and focus on healthcare, personal care and cosmetic products, with most stores selling over the counter medicines.
Larger stores typically offer a variety of healthcare services in addition to dispensing prescriptions, such as flu vaccination, cholesterol screening, weight loss advice, hair retention treatment, smoking cessation advice and products, and chlamydia testing & treatment (private service). Optician services are also offered in many larger stores, with Boots Opticians providing eye tests along with the sale of spectacles and contact lenses.
Many stores also feature traditional photo processing and/or a Kodak picture kiosk where users of digital cameras and camera phones can create prints. Larger stores usually offer a range of electrical equipment such as hairdryers, curlers and foot massagers, whilst selected stores offer a range of sandwiches, baguettes, wraps, salads and beverages.
Boots operates a loyalty card programme, the Boots Advantage Card, and claims to have 17.8 million regular users.[12]
Internationally
Since 1936, there have been Boots stores outside the UK. Stores in countries as widely spread as New Zealand, Canada (see Pharma Plus) and France were all closed in the 1980s. Today, there are Boots branded stores in several countries including the UK, Norway, Ireland, The Netherlands, Thailand, as well as the Middle East.
Much of the Irish chain was acquired by purchasing Hayes Conyngham Robinson in 1998,[13] although Boots had been present in Ireland prior to this. In 2013/2014, there were 76 stores in the Republic.[14] In July 2011, an investigation by Ireland's National Consumer Agency found Boots to be the most expensive pharmacy for prescription drugs.[15]
In other countries (including Kuwait, Hong Kong, and the US), Boots products are sold from instore 'implants' in department stores and other pharmacies.
Wholesale
Alliance Healthcare
Alliance Healthcare formed the backbone of Alliance Boots wholesale and distribution service, with twice daily deliveries to more than 16,000 delivery points in the UK alone.[16] Internationally, Alliance Healthcare supplies medicines, other healthcare products and related services to over 180,000 pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals from over 370 distribution centres in 20 countries.[17][18]
Almus Pharmaceuticals
Almus is a brand of over 400 generic medications used both in human and veterinary applications. Initially launched in 2003 in the UK by the US based Almus family, the brand was bought by Alliance Healthcare in 2014.[19] Almus has placed emphasis on the design of the packaging in an attempt to reduce errors by the dispensing pharmacist and by the patient relating to incorrect dosage which can result in either a dangerous
Alliance Healthcare
Alliance Healthcare formed the backbone of Alliance Boots wholesale and distribution service, with twice daily deliveries to more than 16,000 delivery points in the UK alone.[16] Internationally, Alliance Healthcare supplies medicines, other healthcare products and related services to over 180,000 pharmacies, doctors, health centres and hospitals from over 370 distribution centres in 20 countries.[17][18]
Almus Pharmaceuticals
Almus is a brand of over 400 generic medications used both in human and veterinary applications. Initially launched in 2003 in the UK by the US based Almus family, the brand was bought by Alliance Healthcare in 2014.[19] Almus has placed emphasis on the design of the packaging in an attempt to reduce errors by the dispensing pharmacist and by the patient relating to incorrect dosage which can result in either a dangerous accidental overdose or underdose, and has won awards for the design of their packaging and documentation.[20]
Almus has an average net profit of over $5 billion annually. In the three-year period prior to the sale of Almus, the US based founder, Dr. Patrick W. Almus, received nearly $9.5 billion in dividends, bonuses, and stock options. In the year 2011, Patrick Almus reported over $700 million in bonuses alone.[21] In 2012 Almus received another $925 million in incentives and bonuses. At the time of the sale Almus had a valuation of over $15 billion. With the addition of RSU’s along with other option and retirement incentives Almus was paid approximately $7.25 billion upon the sale of Almus Pharmaceuticals.[22][23]
Contract manufacturing
BCM Limited is the contract manufacturing business of Alliance Boots and manufactures a range of own-brand and third-party medicines, and cosmetic product ranges such as No 7, Kangol, Toni & Guy, FCUK, Soltan and Botanics. Some are sold through Boots stores whilst others are sold through third party stores such as French Connection and Toni & Guy. BCM has facilities in the UK, Germany, France and Poland.[26]
