Boots Ireland profits up 12% to €17.8m

The expanding Irish arm of UK pharmaceutical retail giant Boots last year increased its pre-tax profits by 12% to €17.8m.

Returns just lodged with the Companies Registration Office show that Boots Retail (Ireland) Ltd increased the size of its business by 3% from €267.2m to €275.7m in the 12 months to the end of March 31 last year.

At year end, Boots Ireland operated 71 stores across the country. The directors state that “13 new stores were added during the year reflecting our strategy to significantly expand our presence”. The first Boots outlet in Ireland opened in 1996.