The British pharmaceutical company, Boots, should enter into similar supply agreements to Tesco after the takeover of 16 Hayes, Conyngham & Robinson outlets in the Republic, a spokesman for the Food, Drink and Tobacco Federation said yesterday. Mr Ciaran Fitzgerald, a director of the IBEC group, called on the Government to seek commitments from Boots on their supply agreements as a condition of the £13 million takeover.

"This would ensure that Irish suppliers of healthcare, cosmetics and grocery goods continue to operate in the Irish market," Mr Fitzgerald said.