Boots is rebranding each of the pharmacies it already operates in 13 Waitrose branches as ‘Boots Pharmacy’.

Waitrose and Boots have also announced their intention to trial selling a “very selective” range of each other’s products. As a result of the agreement, Boots will sell Waitrose food and Waitrose will stock Boots healthcare and wellbeing products.

Alliance Boots saw the moves as  “an important first step in developing a wider relationship with Waitrose”, said health and beauty division chief executive Alex Gourlay.

Waitrose added in a statement: “In pre-trial research, customers say they see real logic in the development and expect an offer that is beyond what either brand could deliver alone.”