THE VITAMIN PIONEER

HOLLAND & Barrett was formed in 1870 by Alfred Slapps Barrett and Major William Holland when they bought a store in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Alfred Button & Sons took it over in the 1920s, keeping the Holland & Barrett name.

In 1970 it was acquired by convenience store operator Booker. Lloyds Pharmacy purchased it in 1992, later selling it to US health goods chain NBTY which rebranded it as a health and wellbeing store.

US private equity firm The Carlyle Group later took control after buying NBTY for £3bn.

Last year Holland & Barrett posted sales of £610m.