Boots Retail (Ireland) Limited
Subsidiary
Trading nameBoots Ireland
Founded5 November 2002 (age 23)
Hq locationCitywest Business Campus
Hq location cityDublin
Hq location countryIreland
Num locations (2023)89
Area servedIreland
Key peopleStephen Watkins (Managing director)
Num employees (2023)2,000
ParentBoots
SubsidBoots Hearingcare Ireland
Websiteboots.ie

Boots Retail (Ireland) Limited 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 Nov 5, 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 Apr 24, 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 Nov 8, 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 Feb 17, 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 June 14, 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

  1. ^ "Boots company information". www.boots.ie. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  2. ^ Aughney, Jim (16 October 1996). "Boots' £7.6m Dublin stores plan". Irish Independent. p. 8. Archived 3 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 December 2023. – via Irish Newspaper Archives
  3. ^ Mills, Kevin (21 February 1998). "Boots agree to look at SFA three-point plan". Irish Examiner. p. 12. Archived 19 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 December 2023. – via Irish Newspaper Archives
  4. ^ "Boots Retail (Ireland) Ltd | Irish Retail Company & Director Check". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Pharmacy giant makes it debut on trading floor". Belfast Telegraph. 31 July 2006. p. 16. Archived 21 February 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 December 2023. – via Irish Newspaper Archives
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Boots Hearingcare Ireland Ltd - Irish Company Info - SoloCheck". www.solocheck.ie. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  8. ^ Slattery, Laura. "Boots Ireland appoints Stephen Watkins as new MD". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Fix the basics first: Boots Ireland CIO Michelle Kearns on implementing IT change". CIO. 18 Jul 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  10. ^ Luke, Gerald (16 October 1996). "Boots to open shops in capital". Irish Examiner. p. 23. Archived 19 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 December 2023. – via Irish Newspaper Archives
  11. ^ "40 jobs in Boots Square move". The Echo. 19 September 1996. p. 16. Archived 19 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 December 2023. – via Irish Newspaper Archives
  12. ^ "Win a £1,000 shopping day out". Evening Herald. 10 February 1997. p. 27. Archived 27 November 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 December 2023. – via Irish Newspaper Archives
  13. ^ "store-a-z". Boots Ireland. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  14. ^ McGrath, Stephen (11 June 1999). "Boots get stuck into asthma". Evening Herald. p. 29. Archived 4 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 December 2023. – via Irish Newspaper Archives
  15. ^ "Boots Ireland and Irish Cancer Society form partnership to support people living with cancer in Ireland". Northern Standard. 9 August 2012. p. 3. Archived 27 November 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 19 December 2023. – via Irish Newspaper Archives
  16. ^ "Boots Irish Cancer Society Partnership - Boots Ireland". www.boots.ie. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Boots launches online store boots.ie". RTE.ie. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  19. ^ "Boots' revenues hit almost €300m in a 'strong' year". Independent.ie. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2023.