The Boots Company PLC will announce its half-year results on 8th November 2001, and will be speaking with analysts this week ahead of the closed period. The profit outlook for the year to March 2002 remains in line with management expectations at the start of the year.
Good progress continues to be made in implementing the range of initiatives to deliver our strategy.
The Chemists in the second quarter has been mixed. The Chemists in the first half are likely to show a small increase. Gross margins increased further as anticipated. Like for like sales in Boots Healthcare International showed some recovery from the first quarter performance, although the abolition of Resale Price Maintenance has caused a delay in sales into the UK trade. We expect to achieve these sales with the onset of the autumn and winter seasons.