ONCE Boots was Britain's favourite pharmacist, found in every High Street. With its huge buying power it offered plenty of choice and low prices that the independent chemists struggled to match.

But now it too is suffering at the hands of a bigger, bolder competitor. Last year Boots' profits fell by 11 per cent, partly because of competition from supermarkets.

Supermarkets are clearing the high street. They've seen off many butchers, bakers, greengrocers. Now they are challenging pharmacies. This time Boots fell into the gap - not small enough to offer a real personal service like the remaining independents, but, amazingly, not big enough to carry the huge financial clout of the likes of Asda and Tesco.

Boots has always believed in diversifying. Once it had lending libraries, which closed in the 1960s. Then its range expanded to include children's clothes, toys and electricals. But the supermarkets do that and more. Asda and Tesco do great ranges of children's clothes, amazingly cheaply.

Supermarkets carry over-the-counter medicines comparable with Boots and at fiercely competitive prices. Many now have their own in-store pharmacies.

Meanwhile, supermarket shelves carry an ever greater range of healthcare, beauty items and toiletries. You can probably get most of what you need from there, so why go to a chemist?

After all, you have to go food shopping and it makes life easier if you can get everything else at the same time. Let's face it, if you get your medicines at Boots, you've still got to go somewhere else to buy supper.

But the battle's not over. Boots has just said it is to merge with rival Alliance UniChem in a deal which will create one of Europe's largest drugs, beauty and healthcare groups.

Buying your Aspirin might just have got more interesting.

How prices compare...

When it comes to prices, supermarkets regularly undercut Boots - even on many of Boots' special offers. We compared Boots with Asda and Tesco on a range of entirely random purchases and in virtually every one, Boots was more expensive than its rivals.

Anadin Extra Soluble 16

Boots: £2.99

Asda: £2.12

Tesco: £1.88

Calpol 6 Plus sachets

Boots: £2.49

Asda: £2.18

Tesco: £2.18

Nurofen for children

Boots: £4.39

Tesco: £3.39

Deep Heat spray

Boots £3.69

Asda: £3.25

Tesco: £3.25

Pampers Newborn nappies

Boots: £7.19

Asda: £6.98

Tesco: £6.98

Pampers Extra Dry nappies

Boots: £8.49 (two packs for £16)

Asda: £8.48

Tesco: £8.48 (two packs for £15)

Kodak single use camera

Boots: £8.99 each, three for two

Asda: £4.98 for two

Tesco: £6.92 for two

Pantene Pro V shampoo

Boots: £2.99

Asda: £2.98

Tesco: £2.97 or two for £4

Tremsee revitalising shampoo

The only item cheaper in Boots, beause of its special offer.

Boots: £2.99 for 500ml. But buy one, get one free

Asda £3.44 for 900

Tesco: £3.44 for 900

Elnett hairspray

Boots: £5.29

Tesco: £4.29

Olay Total Effects moisturiser

Boots: £14.99, plus a three for two offer

Tesco: £9.97

Imperial Leather shower gel

Boots: £1.38

Tesco: £1.35, plus buy one get one free

Sure deodorant

Boots: £1.09

Asda: £1.04

Tesco: 99p

Tampax 30

Boots: £2.62

Asda: £2.58

Tesco: £2.58

Brylcreem Strong Wax

Boots: £3.59 for 50ml, three for two offer

Asda: £2.98 for 65ml

Tesco: £2.98 for 65ml

Seven Seas cod liver oil

Boots: £5.49

Asda: £4.52

Tesco: £4.53

Three pairs opaque tights

Boots: £6, three for two

Tesco: £3.50

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