SHOPPERS have taken to social media to express their fury as a wave of Boots stores are set to pull down their shutters today.
Fans of the pharmaceutical giant took to X, formerly Twitter, to make their feelings known.
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It comes after Boots announced it would today be closing its Mount Pleasant branch in Exeter, as well as an outlet in Mudge Way, Plymouth.
Another outlet in Kirkby Ashfield is shutting will also be pulling the plug this weekend.
The slew of closures inspired criticism on social media.
“I have worked in a pharmacy for 35 plus years,” one X user wrote.
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“Boots closing these stores is an accident waiting to happen.”
A second weighed in: “The Boots in my town closed last month.
“Now there is only one pharmacy covering a town of 10,000 people.”
A third added: “This is happening all over the country.
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“These closures are putting a huge strain on other pharmacies.”
The closures come as part of wider plans proposed in June that will see the retailer’s total shops reduced from 2,200 to 1,900.
Since then, more than a dozen shops have closed across the country.
Stores have shut in Manchester, London and Woking while more are earmarked for closure in December and the New Year.
Boots on Portland Walk, Barrow, is one of two claimed to be closing in the near future, The Mail in South Cumbria reports.
The future of the pharmacy outlets across Teignbridge is also uncertain as its store in Gestridge Road had its closure confirmed, the Mid-Devon Advertiser reports.
Figures from the British Retail Consortium reveal 6,000 retail outlets have closed their doors for good in the last five years.
The trade association said the closures are in part due to “crippling” business rates and the impact of Covid lockdowns.
A number of well-known brands, including Cath Kidston, Wilko and Paperchase have all gone into administration this year.
Other chains have survived but have still had to close branches, including Sainsbury’s and New Look.
In June, in its quarterly results, Boots said: “Evolving the store estate in this way allows Boots to concentrate its team members where they are needed and focus investment more acutely in individual stores with the ambition of consistently delivering an excellent and reliable service in a fresh and up to date environment.”
