Boots has announced plans to close 300 UK stores in an effort to consolidate branches within "close proximity" of each other.
After axing a number of sites this year, the high street pharmacy will shut the latest stores within the next year. The exact locations of branches have not been confirmed and closures are not expected to lead to redundancies.
An employer of 52,000 people, the move will reduce chain locations from around 2,200 to just 1,900. Boots is also planning to shut 150 branches in the US, with bosses saying the decision aims to "optimise locations".
As reported by the Mirror, the company's quarterly report said: "Over the next year Boots will continue to consolidate a number of stores in close proximity to each other.
"Evolving the store estate in this way allows Boots to concentrate its team members where they are needed and focus investment more acutely in individual stores with the ambition of consistently delivering an excellent and reliable service in a fresh and up to date environment."
James Kehoe, global chief financial officer at Boots parent company, Walgreens Boots Alliance, told analysts yesterday: "We will continue to optimise our locations and opening hours, and expect to close an additional 300 locations in the UK and 150 locations in the US."
Stores at Salford Shopping Centre in Greater Manchester, Church Street, Malvern, The Port Arcades Shopping Centre, Ellesmere, and King William Street, London, have all already closed since the spring. Boots said in all cases there is an alternative store less than three miles away.
Starting in 2019, the retailer closed over 200 stores over an 18-month period - with many within walking distance of each other. And in 2020, it announced 48 opticians were closing, resulting in 4,000 job losses.
The Covid pandemic and cost of living crisis, which has resulted in soaring inflation, has hit the high street hard.
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