Strong sales of cosmetics and fragrances ensured retail group Alliance Boots delivered healthy Christmas trading figures today.
The group - created from last summer's merger of Boots and Alliance Unichem - saw UK retail sales increase by 2.5 per cent and by 1.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis in the three months to December 31st.
Boots said that Ireland was one of the top-performing areas with the Liffey Valley store delivering the second highest sales across the entire retail chain of over 3,000 stores for the Christmas period. The outlet on Dublin's Jervis Street was ranked within the top 30 stores in the group.
Alliance Boots added that less discounting and promotional activity, plus a higher proportion of exclusive and own brand seasonal products, meant its trading margin improved over the period.
PA
