Boots cashes in on record Black Friday

BOOTS hailed a strong festive period after enjoying record Black Friday sales.

The UK’s biggest chemist said sales in the three months to November 30 were 8.7pc higher than a year earlier.

That continued into Christmas, with sales in December up 15pc from the same month in 2021.

Boss Seb James, 56, said the retailer was lifted by cash-strapped shoppers snapping up discounts. He said that, more than ever, customers were receptive to promotions, a trend the chemist expects to continue this year. And he said shoppers were pulled in by its value range, where sales jumped by more than a third in the quarter. James said: ‘It is interesting to see how people are shopping. They are saying, “I want a good conditioner or shampoo, I don’t need to go for fancy pants labels, but I am going to get something that is good quality.”’ The chain said its focus on value amid the soaring cost of living squeeze facing households is a ‘significant driver of growth’.

Boots was also boosted by workers returning to offices and the resurgence in tourism, with city centre and travel stores seeing a jump in visits. In-store transactions were 8pc higher than the same time a year ago. The business was founded in Nottingham by John Boot in 1849, selling herbal remedies. It now has 2,200 stores and around 51,000 staff.

The bumper quarter comes as it bounces back from the pandemic, in which it racked up huge losses and cut thousands of jobs.