Holland & Barrett

[[File:Holland & Barrett, Heerenveen (2018).jpg|thumb|left|A Holland & Barrett in the [[Netherlands]]]]
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'''Holland & Barrett''' is the biggest chain of [[Food woo|health food]] shops in the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]]. It has a ''beans and sandals'' image despite being part of a private equity firm L1 Retail, which was founded by [[Russian]] billionaire Mikhail Fridman.<ref name=guardian2017>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jun/26/holland-barrett-sold-russian-billionaire-mikhail-fridman Holland & Barrett sold to Russian billionaire for £1.8bn], Press Association/''[[The Guardian]]'', 26 June 2017</ref>

==Products and services==
Among the items found on their shelves are:
*[[Homeopathy|Homeopathic remedies]]
*[[Vitamin supplement|Vitamin supplement]]s at much higher doses than typically needed.
*[[Nutritional supplement]]s
*[[Magic]] bracelets<ref>http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-copper-bracelet-60089710</ref>
*[[Shark cartilage]]<ref>http://www.bite-back.com/victories/holland-barrett/</ref>
*Horny [[goat]] weed (''Epimedium'' spp.)<ref>http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-horny-goat-weed-60027896</ref>
*[[Kosher]] food<ref>https://www.hollandandbarrett.es/en/2531-kosher</ref>
*Every mainstream variety of herbal tea
*Fairtrade products
*Lots of different types of honey

The [[BBC]] investigated Holland & Barrett's in-store [[food allergy]] testing. They found the results varied widely from shop to shop; an undercover reporter was told he was sensitive to dozens of foods.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south/series2/food_sensitivity_allergy_vega_tests.shtml</ref>

==Politics==
The company took part in the government's ill-fated ''Workfair'' program, which forced benefit claimants to work for free at their shops. The company withdrew after pickets and bad publicity.

MP [[David Tredinnick]] is known as ''The honourable Member for Holland and Barrett'' for his support of homoeopathy.<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/astrologyloving-mp-david-tredinnick-convinced-practise-can-reduce-strain-on-nhs-9629150.html</ref>

==Marketing==
Fittingly, Holland & Barrett employ a company called ''Woo'' to do their in-store marketing.<ref>http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/855191/holland---barrett-fresh-ad-strategy</ref>

They also have a long-running offer where if you buy two products the cheaper costs one penny. This accurately reflects the value of most of their products.

==Corporate==
The firm was founded by Alfred Slapps Barrett and Major William Holland in 1870 in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, selling clothes and groceries.<ref name=wp>{{wpa|Holland & Barrett}}</ref> It only gradually moved into the "health food" and woo market, passing through a variety of corporate parents. In 1970, it was bought by the cash and carry firm Booker which combined it with their Heath and Heather tea shops. Healthcare group LloydsPharmacy bought it in 1992, and in 1997 ownership passed to Nature's Bounty Co (NBTY).<ref name=wp/> In 2010, NBTY was bought by The Carlyle Group, a private equity group with major investments in defence and links to [[George H. W. Bush]]. In 2017, Carlyle sold Holland & Barrett to L1 Retail, a subdivision of {{wpl|LetterOne||,}} which is owned by Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman (although headquartered in Luxembourg).<ref name=guardian2017/><ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/mikhail-m-fridman/ Mikhail M Fridman], Bloomberg Billionaires Index, accessed 14 May 2018</ref> It was LetterOne's first major retail acquisition; they also have extensive stakes in the oil and gas industry through subsidiary L1 Energy, including ownership of German oil and gas company {{wpl|DEA AG||,}} and hold a significant stake in internet taxicab firm Uber.<ref>[https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-deals-carlyle-group-l-idUKKBN19H0JZ Fridman's L1 Retail to buy Holland & Barrett for $2.3 billion], Reuters, 26 June 2017.</ref>

==External links==
* [http://www.hollandandbarrett.com Official UK website]
* [http://www.hollandandbarrett.ae Official UAE website]
* [https://www.hollandandbarrett.es Official Spain website]

==References==
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[[Category:Business]]
[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Diet woo]]
[[Category:Food woo]]
[[Category:Alternative medicine promoters]]

Categories: Business, Alternative medicine, Diet woo, Food woo, Alternative medicine promoters