The Boots Group was formed in 2025 following the acquisition of Walgreens Boots Alliance by Sycamore Partners and the dissolution of the Company. Prior to its formation Boots, Farmacias Benavides and Alliance Healthcare Deutschland had a rich heritage of innovation and industry leadership dating back more than 176 years.
John Boot opens first Boots store, selling herbal remedies, in Goose Gate, Nottingham, UK.
The Boots business begins to develop under Jesse Boot, John Boot's son.
Farmacias Benavides is founded in Monterrey, Mexico, as a single pharmacy called Botica del Carmen.
Boots opens its 1,000th store in the UK.
Boots launches No7 cosmetics.
UniChem group is formed in the UK to serve wholesale pharmaceutical products to independent pharmacies.
Boots sun tan creams had been popular since the 1920s, but the launch of Soltan addressed customers' desire for a non-greasy lotion. Launched as a cream and a lotion, the fantastic summer of 1939 helped to make the brand an instant success.
The first self-service Boots stores are trialed in London, UK.
Boots launches Ibuprofen (Brufen) in the UK.
Pharmaceutical wholesaler Alleanza Farmaceutica is founded by Stefano Pessina in Italy.
Pharmaceutical wholesaler Di Pharma is founded by Ornella Barra in Italy.
Alliance Santé group is formed from the merger between Alleanza Salute Italia and French pharmaceutical wholesalers ERPI and IFP.
Alliance UniChem is formed from the merger of Unichem and Alliance Santé.
Alliance UniChem acquires 29.99 percent of German pharmaceutical wholesaler ANZAG.
Alliance UniChem merges with Boots Group to form Alliance Boots.
Alliance Boots wholesale businesses begin to be rebranded to Alliance Healthcare. Alliance Boots is privatized.
Merger of Boots Opticians and Dollond & Aitchison to form the second largest optical chain in the UK.
Walgreens acquires a 45 percent stake in Alliance Boots, taking the first step in the strategic partnership to create the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. Walgreens and Alliance Boots form Walgreens Boots Alliance Development joint venture in Bern, Switzerland.
Walgreens and Alliance Boots announce a strategic, long-term relationship with AmerisourceBergen, now known as Cencora, to collaborate on global supply chain opportunities.
Walgreens exercises option to complete second step of its strategic partnership with Alliance Boots, forming Walgreens Boots. Alliance Boots completes the acquisition of a 12 percent stake in Nanjing Pharmaceutical Company Limited, a major Chinese pharmaceutical wholesaler. Alliance Boots completes acquisition of Farmacias Benavides in Mexico.
WBA joins the Dow Jones Industrial Average. In July, the company completed an acquisition to acquire a 40 percent minority stake in GuoDa, a leading retail pharmacy chain in China.
In April, WBA launched the No7 Beauty Company, a consumer-led beauty business creating beauty brands for every skin type, ethnicity, age and texture that everyone can trust.
In June, WBA completed the sale of its Alliance Healthcare businesses to AmerisourceBergen Corporation, now known as Cencora, allowing WBA to further focus on expanding its core retail pharmacy businesses and bring more innovative healthcare offerings to customers and patients.
In February, WBA announced the completion of the acquisition of the remaining 30% equity stake in its German pharmaceutical wholesale joint venture with McKesson Corporation. As a result, WBA assumed full ownership of the combined GEHE and Alliance Healthcare businesses in Germany.
Boots launched the NHS Pharmacy First service in England.
The Boots Group is formed as a result of WBA entering into definitive agreement with Sycamore Partners.