Strong sales of products with pharmaceutical labels have been recorded by high street chemist Boots.

The company reported that sales by its medicines wholesale division rose by 23 per cent in the 12 months to March 2011 compared with the same period the year before.

This means the total revenue from items with pharma labels rose to £13.9 billion for the retailer.

Stefano Pessina, executive chairman of the company, commented: "Alliance Boots continues to perform strongly, delivering a double digit growth in trading profit through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions, while at the same time reducing net borrowings."

The organisation's trading profit in the pharmaceutical wholesale division improved by 36.2 per cent over the course of the year.

In March, Boots UK and Boots Opticians were acknowledged in the Sunday Times Best Big Companies to Work For, with the former coming in at 19th and the latter taking the number one spot.

Denny Bros Ltd, 17 May 2011