Boots celebrated its 60^th anniversary of operations in Northern Ireland this week.

The multiple employs 1,200 staff and has 65 stores in the country, with two more opening shortly at Belfast City and Belfast International airports.

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It praised its pharmacy teams for playing a “key role in supporting community healthcare” by dispensing 5.3 million items and delivering over 47,000 Pharmacy First consultations last year.

Northern Ireland director of stores Aileen McGroggan said Boots is “proud to serve communities right across Northern Ireland”.

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“We’ve continued to innovate our health, beauty and wellness offering while remaining a trusted place people can turn to for advice, support and care,” she said.

Boots’ first store opened in Cornmarket, Belfast, in March 1966, with another opening in Bangor shortly after.

Its archivist Sophie Clapp said the multiple has become “a place that generations of customers have relied on” ever since.

It has developed its community offer in recent years, including working with charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

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Together, they trained pharmacists to provide medication support to those living with cancer, along with beauty advisors and optometrists who can help manage the “visible effects of cancer and its treatment” for patients.

Boots also put donation points in 34 of its Northern Ireland stores for The Hygiene Bank initiative to help people access essential hygiene products.

It distributed 2,000kg of donated toiletries and personal care products to people through 83 local community partners in 2025.

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It comes as Boots announced 790 of its pharmacists had completed advanced dermatology training to give clinical skin care support to customers, following its rollout in May 2025.

In May, Boots announced Alex Baldock as its new chief executive to take over in the autumn.

And 55 of its Northern Ireland branches had signed up to the Daffodil Standards for community pharmacy since it launched in March 2025.