Canada’s Weston family buys Boots for $8.9bn

Wittington Investments, the holding company of the Weston family that controls the Loblaws grocery chain and Drugmart pharmacies in Canada, will own Boots’ UK and Irish retail operations and opticians chain. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

The Canadian family that once owned Selfridges department store has bought the UK pharmacy and beauty retailer Boots for $8.9bn (£6.74bn).

Wittington Investments, the holding company of the Weston family that controls the Loblaws grocery chain and Drugmart pharmacy chain in Canada, will own Boots’ UK and Irish retail operations and opticians chain, the No7 beauty brand and a franchise arm in Thailand.