Boots is bringing dedicated wellness zones to its physical stores to help customers lead healthier lives.

The health and beauty retailer is currently offering these zones at six of its stores, including Dartford Bluewater Park, Manchester Trafford Centre, Newcastle Eldon, London White City, Sheffield Meadowhall and Dublin Liffey Valley.

By visiting these zones, customers can browse items across product categories such as sleep, hydration, movement, nutrition, stomach health and beauty-from-within.

Boots claims these products will come from “trusted” brands.

Customers will be able to try many of these items before buying them, thanks to samples from companies such as Humantra, Zooki and DIRTEA.

Alongside the rollout of its new wellness zones, Boots has also announced it’s providing wellness training to more than 500 health and wellness experts.

Set to be stationed at 140 Boots chains, they’ll draw on this training to discuss varying health topics with customers.

These experts will also be qualified to recommend products and lifestyle changes that can help customers meet their health and wellness objectives, which Boots claims is becoming a growing focus for many people.

In new research conducted by Censuswide and commissioned by Boots, 62 per cent of people said they are now engaging with wellness topics. It also found that 40 per cent of beauty consumers view wellness as key to their beauty regimen.

Wellness is particularly popular among younger generations, with 58 per cent of Gen Zers and millennials setting New Year’s resolutions designed to improve their health and wellbeing. Furthermore, 34 per cent of Gen Zers are willing to spend more of their money on wellness at the start of the year.

More broadly, wellness continues to be a major focus for Boots. The retailer has expanded its offering with 140 new products and 12 new brands.

In the last year alone, it’s introduced more than 750 wellness lines, including an own-brand offering called Wealthy by Boots. Customers can find these products in physical Boots stores and on its website, which now features a new section called Boots Wellness Hub.

Kirsty Thorley-Mitchell, head of Wellness at Boots, said: “We know that the world of wellness can feel a little overwhelming and for many it's hard to know where to begin. Our unique training provides education on trends, ingredients and routines so we can help to guide customers on the right products and routines for them.

“Our new Wellness Zones offer customers the opportunity to access expert and personalised advice from their local high-street, aligning with increased demand from customers, particularly those who are cross-category shopping from health and beauty.”

---