Walgreens Boots Alliance said it would expand the Deliveroo partnership – first trialled in August last year – to cover 125 stores across the UK and offer consumers home-deliveries on more than 750 health and beauty products. Whilst Boots UK had long had next-day click and collect services, the tie-up with Deliveroo marked its first foray into on-demand deliveries.
‘More convenient and personal shopping experience’
Paula Bobbett, chief digital officer at Boots, said: “The original trial in 14 stores was a huge success and gave us the opportunity to learn very quickly what our customers want from a rapid delivery service. Now, as we expand to 125 stores across the UK, we can be sure the products available on the service are well matched to customer needs.”
The Deliveroo app gave consumers access to a range of Boots’ health and beauty products across makeup, skin care, baby care, sexual wellness, fragrances and toiletries, including from brands like No7, Soltan, CeraVe and Paco Rabanne. Consumers could also place home delivery orders on food, drink and snack items from Boots, as well as medicines for minor ailments. Longer term, the goal was to also introduce more Boots gifting ranges to the offering, to help with last-minute present ideas.
Walgreens Boots Alliance said the Deliveroo partnership formed part of a wider, ongoing investment in digital that aimed to provide consumers with “a more convenient and personal shopping experience”.
Digital investments and growth ‘overdue’
Back in May 2022, Boots reported online sales via its website had almost doubled versus pre-COVID years during its third quarter (Q3). It also said the Boots App now had more than five million active users, up 32% year-over-year (YOY).
Late last year, retail expert Chris Elliot, head of market insights at Edge by Ascential, said it was good to see Boots investing more in its digital business, describing the Deliveroo partnership as “a good move, if not overdue”.
Elliot told CosmeticsDesign-Europe the investment was especially timely, given the company was predicting it would lose market share over the next five years and competitors like Superdrug were recording far stronger online sales.
“There are not too many market leaders losing share. They’re obviously looking at similar data and realising they need to do something,” he said.
Deliveroo offering ‘greater choice and availability’
Deliveroo was also pleased with the partnership expansion.
Carlo Mocci, chief business officer for UK and Ireland at Deliveroo, said the Boots partnership meant the app could provide even “greater choice and availability to people across the UK”.
“…Boots is a fantastic partner for Deliveroo and hugely valued by our customers,” Mocci said.
Deliveroo already worked with several health and beauty retailers and brands across the UK, including Holland & Barrett, Lloyds Pharmacy and Benefit Cosmetics, despite remaining largely dedicated to restaurant and grocery.
