Boots could be the next retailer to announce store closures likely to affect each town throughout the UK.
SKY News are reporting that more than 200 outlets have been placed under a two-year review as part of a restructuring plan outlined by its American owner Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA).
It is understood that decisions are yet to be made about the locations currently under scrutiny, but have acknowledged that a significant number are likely to be axed.
The move is understood to affect towns with several stores, Swindon currently have four Boots stores in the Brunel, Greenbridge, The Orbital, Old Town as well as a number of standalone pharmacy locations throughout town.
A Boots spokesperson has responded denying there are any major store closure plans saying: “We currently do not have a major programme envisaged, but as you’d expect we always review under-performing stores and seek out opportunities for consolidation.
“As is natural with a business of our size, we have stores opening, closing and relocating on a regular basis, but we have had around 2,500 stores open for several years now.
“In fact we’re investing in our stores – last year, we completed a huge merchandising project to update our self-selection cosmetics areas in 2,200 of our stores.
“We have recently announced the planned opening of a new flagship store in Covent Garden, London and the reinvention of our beauty business in 24 stores across the UK.
“We are being realistic about the future and that we will need to be agile to adapt to the changing landscape.”
