Boots to merge with Dollond & Aitchison

Boots Opticians is to merge with Dollond & Aitchison, the high street retail chain said today.

The combined business, trading as Boots Opticians, will have around 690 practices and employ more than 5,000 staff.

Dollond & Aitchison will gradually disappear from the high street as its stores adopt the Boots Optician brand.

Alliance Boots said the new company, which will be joint-owned with Dollond & Aitchison parent De Rigo, will create the UK’s second largest chain of opticians.