Boots is planning to close 200 shops

Boots, the health and beauty retailer and pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom, has confirmed it will be closing 200 shops. According to BBC, the chain's boss, it is "the right thing to do" in the current tough trading conditions.

According to Boots, the most affected by closures will be the local pharmacy shops that are located close to another shop. There will be little impact on employees as most of the staff will be redeployed to other shops nearby, says the retailer. The company is currently deciding which of its shops will remain open, as their target is that every customer will be able to reach a Boots within a 10-minute drive. 

Cutting costs

Currently, the chain owns 2,485 shops across the United Kingdom and has approximately 56,000 employees. Last month, the retailer mentioned considering closing shops in an attempt to cut costs. It is understood that most shops that are loss-making at present will be closed down.  

Sebastian James, Managing Director at Boots, said: "There's no doubt that trading conditions are tough on the high street and healthcare and retail are facing a challenging reality. Boots is not immune to these pressures.” He also mentioned that the company is making hard decisions in order to transform the business and ensure future growth.