Global leaders of Walgreens Boots Alliance landed back in Nottingham to celebrate the competed refurbishment of Boots’ biggest flagship store in its hometown.

The most extensive refurbishment that Boots has done on any store in the UK for over 15 years, the entire 2,680 sq m shop has been transformed, using feedback from customers to offer the very best feel good experiences across pharmacy, health and beauty.

An opening ceremony for the store was attended by Stefano Pessina, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance and Ornella Barra, Co-Chief Operating Officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance

Ornella Barra and Stefano Pessina, along with the Boots intu Victoria Centre management team, and Adrienne and Bev, the store's longest standing colleagues

 

The 23-week refurbishment has seen the store become a beautiful Boots of the future, including moving the pharmacy upstairs to offer a consolidated healthcare floor, refurbishments of Boots Opticians and Boots Hearingcare practices, introducing over 1000 new product lines and exciting new beauty experiences including a new Benefit Brow Bar and the brand, Bare Minerals.

Elizabeth Fagan, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Boots, said: “We know that while times are changing, the things that matter most to customers when shopping remain constant – great care and customer service, as well as great value, products and services. Boots has always been about the customer – anticipating what they want and adapting to make sure that we’re meeting all of their needs, and that is what this entire refurbishment of Boots intu Victoria Centre has been about. We have invested in this important store and listened to customers throughout the journey and we trust that our Nottingham customers will continue to enjoy shopping here for many more years to come.”

In the new store, Boots has used insight from customers to make it even easier to find their favourite products, listened to feedback and increased the number of till points, and created new ways to help customers shopping online by having a dedicated collection point to make it easier and quicker to pick up purchases.

During a speech at the event, Stefano Pessina, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, said: “Nottingham always has and always will be the home of Boots. It has a very special place in our hearts and I am very proud to be here to give the refurbished intu Victoria Centre store back to the city. It is one example of our ongoing investment in Boots, also contributing to the local economy and community.

“Ten years ago, we started a journey to showcase the Boots brand and Boots products to the world, and I am very pleased with what we have achieved towards that goal. Boots is now an international brand, its products are sold across the world, and that’s managed from here in Nottingham. Boots, and our colleagues are part of a global family that make a real difference to the lives of tens of millions of our patients and customers around the world.”

And Ornella Barra, Co-Chief Operating Officer for Walgreens Boots Alliance, added:“Giving back to our communities is at the heart of Boots, and nowhere is this clearer than in Nottingham. We have a long and proud tradition in the city, and are still inspired today by the values that drove Jesse Boot in his time. At WBA, our aim is to use our combined strengths to be a force for good. Our colleagues working at the heart of their local communities, bring our ambition to life in big and small ways every single day.

“As a global healthcare company, we truly carry the value of our brands wherever we operate, including our Boots name and our much-loved product brands like No7, as they expand more and more internationally. This is embodied not only through our commitment to CSR, but also through the health, wellness and beauty care we provide in all our pharmacies.”

Boots in the Victoria Centre first opened in 1972, and since then it’s been the home to the biggest Flagship Boots store, in the hometown of Boots, Nottingham.

A colleague who remembers that moment 45 years ago will be among the guests of honour at the special ribbon cutting ceremony. Bev Tyler and Adrienne Bainbridge, colleagues in Boots intu Victoria Centre, celebrating 45, 41 and years’ service respectively, had the honour of cutting the ribbon and declaring the new-look store open for all to enjoy.