BRITAIN: One of the pillars of the British high street, health and beauty retailer Boots, which also has 84 outlets in Ireland, plans to 'sex up' its image with a new range of products, including vibrators and massage oils.
Boots Plc which runs the chemists' chain of the same name, announced yesterday that it was holding discussions with condom-maker Durex.
"We can confirm that we are in discussions with Boots to launch a range of pleasure-enhancing products including personal massagers," SSL International, which makes Durex condoms and Scholl foot-sprays, said in a statement.
Boots was founded as the "British and American Botanic Establishment" in 1849, expanding rapidly in the 1880s with the spread of the railways.
It now has 1,400 high street stores in Britain. It has 41 branches in Northern Ireland and 43 in the Republic, according to Serco, the management services company which works with Boots in Ireland.
But in recent years it has been battling to shake off a stuffy image and maintain market share, as supermarkets like Tesco compete on traditional product lines, such as shampoo and medicines.
It already stocks part of SSL's "Play" range - a jelly lubricant. "It's not solely vibrators we're discussing," said a Boots spokesman. "The range also includes massage oils. We have been in discussions with SSL, but it's early days yet."