Boots Ireland saw revenues increased by nearly 10% to €580.8m last year.

Accounts for Boots Retail (Ireland) Ltd for the 12 months to the end of last August show turnover at retail pharmacy group rose by more than €50m from €529.6m in 2023.

Operating profit rose 3.4% year-on-year from €38.5m to €39.8m and profit after tax was up 5.2% from €29.9m to €31.5m.

The results improved shareholders' equity by 1.2% from €132.9m to €134.5m, but growth in revenue and profit slowed from the previous year.

Retail accounted for 87.4% of sales and pharmacy made up the remaining 12.6%. Revenue in both categories increased year-on-year by 9.6% and 10.2%, respectively.

The directors said the retail sales increase was down to strong growth in online sales while the boost to pharmacy revenues was a result of government schemes and demand for vaccines. Like-for-like revenues rose 7.4%.

Boots Ireland employed around 1,668 people during the year, up from 1,630, with staff costs also rising from €72.3m to €77.2m.

The company paid out dividends of €29m, down from €48.2m in 2023, and booked a €2.4m impairment charge against the value of its property portfolio as a precaution against rising sales costs and overheads.

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