07.01.22
Deerfield, IL
Sales: $750 million
Key Personnel: Rosalind Brewer, CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance; Ornella Barra, COO, international, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; James Kehoe, EVP/global CFO, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; Danielle Gray, EVP/global chief legal officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; Holly May, EVP/global chief human resources officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; Anita Allemand, chief transformation and integration officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; John Standley, EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and president, Walgreens; Sebastian James, SVP and managing director, Boots; Annie Murphy, SVP, global chief oommercial brands officer and international retail; Aaron Radelet, SVP, global chief communications officer; Charles V. Greener, SVP, global chief public affairs officer; Carlos Cubia, SVP/global chief diversity officer; Francesco Tinto, SVP/global chief information officer; Dr. Mike Bell, head of science research at Walgreens Boots Alliance; Anisha Raghavan, NA CEO, No7
Major Products: Cosmetics, skin care and personal care. Brands include No7, Liz Earle Beauty, Soap & Glory, Botanics, Sleek Makeup, Your Good Skin.
New Products: No7 Pure Retinol 1% Retinol Night Concentrate, No7, the Menopause Skincare Collection
Comments: No7 Beauty Company, part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, was formally unveiled in April 2021. It is home to the iconic No7 line as well as Liz Earle Beauty Co., Soap & Glory, Botanics, Your Good Skin and Sleek MakeUP. All told, its portfolio of beauty brands is available online and in more than 20,000 retail outlets across 16 markets worldwide.
It has been a busy first year since the new alignment was announced. Since May 2021:
More recently, No7 and the University of Manchester published research that provided insights into epidermal and skin barrier changes during menopause. The research uncovered insights into how declining estrogen levels impact the epidermis and stratum corneum (skin barrier), specifically exploring how the menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) affect these outer skin layers. The research appeared in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Previously little has been known about how the living epidermis and stratum corneum change during menopause, despite these top skin layers being essential for healthy and hydrated skin. This study compared the skin of 28 women who were either pre-menopausal (7 women), post-menopausal (11 women) or post-menopausal and taking HRT (10 women). The study found differences in the skin of pre-menopausal compared to post-menopausal women, but also notably how use of HRT can help minimize these menopause-related changes. Importantly, this also confirms that changing hormone levels contribute to skin differences measured in this study. The study found that in post-menopausal skin compared to pre-menopausal skin, the skin barrier (stratum corneum) was thicker; there were changes in skin elasticity that correlated more to epidermal changes than to changes deeper down in the skin; a protein called CD44 which is involved in hydration, lipid synthesis and skin turnover, was decreased; and the amount of ceramide in the epidermis was lower. These changes were not observed to the same extent in the post-menopausal HRT group suggesting HRT can minimize but not fully mitigate these changes, said the researchers.
WBA put that research to use; the No7 brand in late June rolled out a line devoted to menopausal skin that will be sold in Walgreens, Ulta, Walmart and Target.
Financially, WBA’s beauty business is tallied in its retail operations. In the US, WBA’s retail sales decreased by 0.4% in fiscal 2021 and were 24.2% of the segment’s sales. Comparable retail sales, however, increased 1.2% , primarily driven by health and wellness, including favorable vitamins and at-home covid-19 tests, and beauty categories partially offset by the continued de-emphasis of tobacco. International retail sales rose 5.5% and represented 30.4% of the segment’s sales. The favorable impact of currency translation on retail sales was 6.5 percentage points. Comparable retail sales in constant currency increased 2.0%, reflecting higher retail sales in the UK and Ireland, including a recovery during the second half of the year, as covid-19 restrictions eased, said WBA.
Sales: $750 million
Key Personnel: Rosalind Brewer, CEO, Walgreens Boots Alliance; Ornella Barra, COO, international, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; James Kehoe, EVP/global CFO, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; Danielle Gray, EVP/global chief legal officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; Holly May, EVP/global chief human resources officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; Anita Allemand, chief transformation and integration officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.; John Standley, EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and president, Walgreens; Sebastian James, SVP and managing director, Boots; Annie Murphy, SVP, global chief oommercial brands officer and international retail; Aaron Radelet, SVP, global chief communications officer; Charles V. Greener, SVP, global chief public affairs officer; Carlos Cubia, SVP/global chief diversity officer; Francesco Tinto, SVP/global chief information officer; Dr. Mike Bell, head of science research at Walgreens Boots Alliance; Anisha Raghavan, NA CEO, No7
Major Products: Cosmetics, skin care and personal care. Brands include No7, Liz Earle Beauty, Soap & Glory, Botanics, Sleek Makeup, Your Good Skin.
New Products: No7 Pure Retinol 1% Retinol Night Concentrate, No7, the Menopause Skincare Collection
Comments: No7 Beauty Company, part of Walgreens Boots Alliance, was formally unveiled in April 2021. It is home to the iconic No7 line as well as Liz Earle Beauty Co., Soap & Glory, Botanics, Your Good Skin and Sleek MakeUP. All told, its portfolio of beauty brands is available online and in more than 20,000 retail outlets across 16 markets worldwide.
It has been a busy first year since the new alignment was announced. Since May 2021:
- No7 launched its first direct to consumer UK website, offering beauty diagnostic tools and virtual consultations.
- Launched a Skin School beauty advisor training program, in partnership with the University of Manchester.
- Liz Earle Beauty Co. joined the Union of Ethical Bio Trade.
- No7 launched in Australia, exclusively available in Priceline stores nationwide.
- Soap & Glory launched in mainland China.
- The full Soap & Glory range was ‘Leaping Bunny’ approved by Cruelty Free International.
- Liz Earle Beauty Co. was awarded Carbon Neutral status.
- Rolled out its first ever Christmas range to market, with 175 plastic-free gift sets from No7, Soap & Glory and Liz Earle Beauty Co.
- Launched No7 Beauty Company’s Creator Collective, working in partnership with content creators for online skincare education.
- Relaunched No7 skin care and cosmetics with PCR packaging.
More recently, No7 and the University of Manchester published research that provided insights into epidermal and skin barrier changes during menopause. The research uncovered insights into how declining estrogen levels impact the epidermis and stratum corneum (skin barrier), specifically exploring how the menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) affect these outer skin layers. The research appeared in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. Previously little has been known about how the living epidermis and stratum corneum change during menopause, despite these top skin layers being essential for healthy and hydrated skin. This study compared the skin of 28 women who were either pre-menopausal (7 women), post-menopausal (11 women) or post-menopausal and taking HRT (10 women). The study found differences in the skin of pre-menopausal compared to post-menopausal women, but also notably how use of HRT can help minimize these menopause-related changes. Importantly, this also confirms that changing hormone levels contribute to skin differences measured in this study. The study found that in post-menopausal skin compared to pre-menopausal skin, the skin barrier (stratum corneum) was thicker; there were changes in skin elasticity that correlated more to epidermal changes than to changes deeper down in the skin; a protein called CD44 which is involved in hydration, lipid synthesis and skin turnover, was decreased; and the amount of ceramide in the epidermis was lower. These changes were not observed to the same extent in the post-menopausal HRT group suggesting HRT can minimize but not fully mitigate these changes, said the researchers.
WBA put that research to use; the No7 brand in late June rolled out a line devoted to menopausal skin that will be sold in Walgreens, Ulta, Walmart and Target.
Financially, WBA’s beauty business is tallied in its retail operations. In the US, WBA’s retail sales decreased by 0.4% in fiscal 2021 and were 24.2% of the segment’s sales. Comparable retail sales, however, increased 1.2% , primarily driven by health and wellness, including favorable vitamins and at-home covid-19 tests, and beauty categories partially offset by the continued de-emphasis of tobacco. International retail sales rose 5.5% and represented 30.4% of the segment’s sales. The favorable impact of currency translation on retail sales was 6.5 percentage points. Comparable retail sales in constant currency increased 2.0%, reflecting higher retail sales in the UK and Ireland, including a recovery during the second half of the year, as covid-19 restrictions eased, said WBA.