Boots Ireland
Logo used since 2019 | |
Boots branch in Mullingar | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 5 November 2002 |
| Founder | John Boot |
| Headquarters | Citywest Business Campus, , |
Number of locations | 89 (2023) |
Area served | Ireland |
Key people | Stephen Watkins (Managing director) |
Number of employees | 2,000 (2023) |
| Parent | Boots |
| Subsidiaries | Boots Hearingcare Ireland |
| Website | boots |
Boots Ireland is the Irish subsidiary of the British pharmacy and beauty chain, Boots.[1] Since 1996, the chain has expanded to almost 90 stores across the Republic of Ireland.
History
In 1996, Boots stated they were making a £7.6 million investment in the Republic of Ireland at an announcement in the Clarence Hotel; the first Boots store opened later that year.[2] In 1998, the Small Firm Association recommended to Boots that they should set up a company within Ireland for the Irish market.[3] The subsidiary was registered on 5 November 2002 as Boots Retail (Ireland) Limited.[4]
In 2006, the parent company Boots became Alliance Boots following a merger with Alliance UniChem.[5] In 2014, Alliance Boots merged with Walgreens to form Walgreens Boots Alliance.[6] On 24 April 2019, Boots Hearingcare Ireland was registered as they began to provide hearing aids and free hearing tests.[7]
In September 2020, Stephen Watkins was appointed as managing director, succeeding Bernadette Lavrery who was then appointed director of pharmacy in the parent company.[8] In May 2021, Michelle Kearns was appointed chief information officer.[9]
Stores
The first store in Ireland opened on 8 November 1996 in the Jervis Shopping Centre, representing an investment of £3.6 million and employing 150 people.[10] The second store was officially opened in The Square Tallaght on 17 February 1997, creating an additional 40 jobs.[11][12]
As of 2023, there are 89 stores across Ireland.[13]
Partnerships
In 1999, they launched an asthma awareness campaign in partnership with the Asthma Association of Ireland.[14] In 2012, Boots formed a partnership with the Irish Cancer Society to support those living with cancer in Ireland.[15][16][17]
Website
On 14 June 2013, the website was launched, enabling customers to purchase online.[18] In October 2014, the company created its Click and Collect service, allowing customers to pay for items online and then collect them in-store.[19]
References
- ^ "Boots company information". www.boots.ie. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
- ^ Aughney, Jim (16 October 1996). "Boots' £7.6m Dublin stores plan". Irish Independent. p. 8. Archived from the original on 3 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ Mills, Kevin (21 February 1998). "Boots agree to look at SFA three-point plan". Irish Examiner. p. 12. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Boots Retail (Ireland) Ltd | Irish Retail Company & Director Check". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Pharmacy giant makes it debut on trading floor". Belfast Telegraph. 31 July 2006. p. 16. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Walgreens and Alliance Boots Complete Step 2 of Merger to Form First Global Pharmacy-Led, Health and Wellbeing Enterprise". Walgreens Boots Alliance. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "Boots Hearingcare Ireland Ltd - Irish Company Info - SoloCheck". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ Slattery, Laura. "Boots Ireland appoints Stephen Watkins as new MD". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "Fix the basics first: Boots Ireland CIO Michelle Kearns on implementing IT change". CIO. 18 Jul 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
- ^ Luke, Gerald (16 October 1996). "Boots to open shops in capital". Irish Examiner. p. 23. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "40 jobs in Boots Square move". The Echo. 19 September 1996. p. 16. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Win a £1,000 shopping day out". Evening Herald. 10 February 1997. p. 27. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "store-a-z". Boots Ireland. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ McGrath, Stephen (11 June 1999). "Boots get stuck into asthma". Evening Herald. p. 29. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Boots Ireland and Irish Cancer Society form partnership to support people living with cancer in Ireland". Northern Standard. 9 August 2012. p. 3. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2023 – via Irish Newspaper Archives.
- ^ "Boots Irish Cancer Society Partnership - Boots Ireland". www.boots.ie. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
- ^ "Boots Ireland and Irish Cancer Society form partnership to support people living with cancer in Ireland | Irish Cancer Society". www.cancer.ie. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
- ^ "Boots launches online store boots.ie". RTE.ie. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "Boots' revenues hit almost €300m in a 'strong' year". Independent.ie. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2023.