International Segment

Our International segment has pharmacy-led health and beauty retail businesses in five countries, each focused on helping people look and feel their best, as well as WBA’s pharmaceutical wholesale operation in Germany.

A Boots Employee helping a customer

This segment operates 3,989 retail stores, with a growing omnichannel and online presence. Our principal retail brands are Boots in the UK, Thailand, and the Republic of Ireland, Boots Opticians, Benavides in Mexico and Ahumada in Chile. We also have Boots franchise operations in the Middle East and Indonesia. 

Number of Retail Stores by Country

CountryNumber of retail stores
United Kingdom2,232
Mexico1,133
Chile295
Thailand237
Republic of Ireland92
Total3,989

Our retail stores are conveniently located and put pharmacists at the heart of healthcare.

More than 85 percent of the UK population lives within 10 minutes of a Boots store, so its pharmacists are well-positioned to provide a significant role in the provision of healthcare services. Working closely with other primary healthcare providers in the communities we serve, Boots offers more than 100 healthcare services both online and in store and dispenses an average of 3.67 million items per week.

In addition, Boots is one of the leaders in the optical market, with 544 practices, of which 161 operate on a franchise basis. Approximately 35 percent of practices are located in Boots stores, with the balance being standalone optical practices.

We continually seek to enhance the position of Boots as a trusted pharmacy brand and a leading provider of health and beauty products, services and advice in local communities. We do this by delivering expert customer care, by improving our store experience for customers and, increasingly, through developing our omnichannel offering.

As the UK's number one most visited health and beauty website, Boots.com and its integrated mobile app allows customers to collect their orders from approximately 71 percent of the UK’s retail stores the following day. The Boots Advantage Card loyalty program continues to be a key element of the Boots offering, with approximately 15.1 million active members as of Aug. 31, 2022 in the UK and Ireland.

International Segment Businesses
Latin American Retail Pharmacies

Both acquired in 2014, Farmacias Benavides is our pharmacy chain in Mexico that operates 1,133* stores, and Farmacias Ahumada is our pharmacy chain in Chile that operates 295* stores. 

*As of August 31, 2022

Boots Franchising

In addition to Boots stores in the UK, Thailand and the Republic of Ireland, WBA works with franchise partners in the Middle East and Indonesia to bring the iconic Boots brand to new geographies, including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar.

Pharmaceutical Wholesale – Germany

On February 2, 2022, WBA announced the completion of the acquisition of the remaining 30% equity stake in its German pharmaceutical wholesale joint venture with McKesson Corporation.

As a result, WBA is now the 100% owner of the combined GEHE and Alliance Healthcare businesses in Germany.