PHARMACY chain Boots are on the look out for prime retail units around the country as they continue their Irish expansion.
Over 30 possible locations are being targeted with Boots’ new Estates Manager David McKenna insisting that the company was committed to driving store expansion in Ireland.
The former Head of Property for the Carphone Warehouse in Ireland has said his role is to drive the store expansion in Ireland, whilst at the same time undertaking a fundamental review of the property cost base.
Boots opened their first store in the Republic of Ireland in 1996 and have expanded since through a combination of company acquisitions and organic expansion.
The company currently has a total of 67 branches throughout the country, having signed just over 15% of these in the last year.
Coinciding with this new approach, Jones Lang LaSalle’s Dublin office have been appointed as sole agents to advise Boots on all property matters for their Irish business.
Stephen Murray, Retail Director of Jones Lang LaSalle said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by Boots to rigorously review the existing portfolio of properties and benchmark each of these to market rent to ensure the cost base is appropriate.
Due to the extremely difficult retail letting market we are also optimistic about our ability to deliver 25 new outlets over the next three years.”
Stephen Murray and Lisa McGrane in Jones Lang LaSalle confirm that over 30 possible target locations include Dublin City Centre, Stillorgan, Blackrock, Lucan, Malahide, Carlow, Tullamore, Galway, Ballinasloe, Enniscorthy, Arklow, Shannon, Dungarvan, Nenagh, Greystones, Wicklow, Trim, Tipperary, Roscrea, Cobh, Mallow, Bandon, Fermoy and Skibbereen amongst others.
