Boots stores could start disappearing from our high street according to the company's new restructuring plans outlined by its American owner Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA).
More than 200 outlets are believed to have been placed under a two year review, according to Sky News.
The MirrorOnline also reports the move will most likely affect towns with several stores, as well as its most underperforming branches which are approaching the end of their lease.
In a statement, Boots confirmed it was opting to be "realistic about the future" and will need to be "agile to adapt to the changing landscape" of the high street.
Sources claim that decisions are yet to be made about the stores under scrutiny, but have acknowledged that a significant number are likely to be axed.
It comes after WBA said it was undertaking a review of its Boots The Chemist estate back in April - with the business "focusing on low-performing stores and opportunities for consolidation".
At the time, Walgreens Boots Alliance said it had suffered its "most difficult quarter" in its history and warned it needed to take "decisive steps to reduce costs in the UK".
A loss of 200 stores would mark another blow to Britain's troubled high streets - and would equate to just under 10% of the chain's standalone UK health and beauty outlets.
It would follow further plans to axe hundreds of jobs at its head office in Nottingham.
Boots UK Spokesperson, said: "We currently do not have a major programme envisaged, but as you'd expect we always review underperforming stores and seek out opportunities for consolidation.
"As is natural with a business of our size, we have stores opening, closing and relocating on a regular basis, but we have had around 2,500 stores open for several years now.
"In fact we’re investing in our stores – last year, we completed a huge merchandising project to update our self-selection cosmetics areas in 2,200 of our stores.
"We have recently announced the planned opening of a new flagship store in Covent Garden, London and the reinvention of our beauty business in 24 stores across the UK."
We are being realistic about the future and that we will need to be agile to adapt to the changing landscape.”
