Boots Retail International, the overseas division of the Boots Co Plc, announced a further stage in its expansion plans on January 27, saying that it planned to open five health and beauty stores in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, by the end of the year. These will closely resemble Boots the Chemists pharmacies in the United Kingdom and the health and beauty stores which the company has already opened in Thailand and Japan. They will stock over-the-counter medicines, fragrances, cosmetics and toiletries.
Lord Blyth of Rowington (chairman, Boots) said that the company believed that it would be able to open as many as 100 stores in Taiwan. Boots also expects to have 50 stores in Thailand by the end of March.
Boots take-over rumours American pharmacy chain Walgreen has been tipped as having an interest in acquring the Boots Co Plc, parent company of Boots the Chemists Ltd. According to a report in the Financial Mail on Sunday on January 23, Boots's shares are now "screamingly cheap" having fallen by 50 per cent over the past 12 months. Walgreen was founded in 1901 and has over 3,000 pharmacies. A spokeswoman for Boots said that the company did not comment on rumours or speculation.