Boots to launch new online marketplace

Pharmacy chain Boots has announced plans to launch a new online marketplace that will welcome third-party brands into its digital offering.

Boots said on Tuesday that Boots Marketplace, due to launch during Spring 2023, will allow brands to list their products on boots.com as part of the company's ongoing digital strategy to rapidly extend the range of its website and explore new and diverse categories.

The American-owned company stated that marketplace products would be integrated with existing products on boots.com. Powered by Mirakl – the industry's first enterprise marketplace software-as-a-service platform – customers will continue to enjoy a single checkout for mixed baskets and access to Boots Advantage Card points.

Chief digital officer Paula Bobbett said: "Marketplace is the exciting next step in our digital transformation programme. We're approaching this new opportunity for Boots with a deep understanding of our customers and the health, beauty and wellness products that they want to buy, and helps us to work with new smaller and entrepreneurial brands.

"Marketplace will allow us to build on the strength of our existing business to offer an even bigger range of choice for consumers and be the first to market with emerging brands and new products."

As of 1330 BST, Walgreens Boots Alliance shares were up 0.65% in pre-market trading at $35.27 each.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com