In its latest financial results, published today (October 25), Walgreens Boots Alliance said "comparable pharmacy sales increased 0.5% on a constant currency basis" in its retail international division – which includes Boots – between June and August 2017.

This rise was "primarily due to growth in the UK", it said.

The international retail pharmacy division reported overall sales of $2.9 billion (£2.2bn) over this three-month period – a decrease of 0.4% “on a constant currency basis” compared with the same period last year.

Wholesaler growth

The wholesale division, which mainly consists of Alliance Healthcare, reported sales of $5.4bn (£4.1bn) – an increase of 0.8% compared with the same period a year ago.

Walgreens Boots Alliance stressed that on a “constant currency basis” comparable sales for this division had actually increased by 5.4%, which was “ahead of the company’s estimate of market growth”.

This was “weighted on the basis of country wholesale sales, with growth in emerging markets and the UK, partially offset by challenging market conditions in continental Europe”, it said.

Overall, Walgreen Boots Alliance reported its sales increased 5.3% to $30.1bn (£22.7bn), an increase of 6.4% "on a constant currency basis".

CEO Stefano Pessina said the business had delivered "significant progress while managing against ongoing prescription reimbursement pressure and competing in fast-changing retail environments".