Boots ‘reconsiders’ plans to close 300 stores after ‘people power’ saves branch
AS Boots looks to close hundreds more storefronts in the coming months, many locals are crying foul.
After a Boots franchise was saved closure after locals rallied together to save their pharmacy, making many believe others may not be shut after all.
Boots announced shocking plans to reduce the popular chain’s store portfolio from around 2,200 to just 1,900.
They said the decision to close stores was not taken lightly, even as outraged locals have campaigned to save their local branches.
But one village in Surrey even managed to completely save their branch from being shuttered after locals, councillors and an MP got involved.
Campaigner Daniel Husseini told Surrey Live: “People were talking about how vital it is and the added pressure that would be on the other stores.”
Farncombe locals created a petition which received well over 1,200 signatures in the village of only 3,500.
In Coventry, a campaign to save the pharmacy from closure has received “overwhelming support”.
And in Eastmoor, the community has signed a petition to keep their branch open prior to closure later this week.
After the outrage from other branches after announcement of closing, many have questioned if Boots may second guess their move to shutter stores.
In a statement, Boots said: “Feedback from our local communities and patients is very important, and we will always listen We have looked again at some stores planned to close where there has been a strong feedback from the community.
“We continuously evolve the shape of our store estate to make sure we have the right stores in the right places to best serve our communities.”
The Sun has reached out to Boots for clarification on store closures.
Previously, Boots closed more than 200 stores over an 18-month period starting in 2019.
In 2020, Boots announced 48 opticians were closing with the loss of 4,000 jobs.
Retailers have been feeling the pinch since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to soaring inflation.
Where are the closures happening?
Here is the full list of stores closing by the end of the year:
- Windhill Road, Wakefield – October 6
- Upper Warrengate, Wakefield – October 7
- Glastonbury – October 13
- Uppingham Road, Leicester – October 13
- Guildford Road, Woking – end of October
- Kings Square, York – October 28
- Warminster – October 28
- Gorleston, Great Yarmouth – November
- High Row, Darlington – November 3
- Mudge Way, Plymouth – November 18
- Mount Pleasant, Exeter – November 18
- Front Street, Prudhoe – no date
The stores that have already closed in 2023 are as follows:
- Salford Shopping Centre, Greater Manchester – February 2023
- Church Street, Malvern – March 11
- The Port Arcades Shopping Centre, Ellesmere – March 11
- King William Street, London – June 2
- Heathside Road, Woking – end of July
- UEA campus – end of July
- Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff – August 1
- Holywell, Flintshire (Wales) – August 26
Boots said in all cases there is an alternative store less than three miles away.
Many of the stores shut because they were loss-making and two-thirds of them were within walking distance of each other.
The Sun has reached out to Boots for clarification about store closings.