Health and Beauty Chains | Luxury Perfumeries and Cosmetics Retail Brands

Health and Beauty Chains

Nuance-Watson (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore)

Nuance-Watson is a joint venture between A S Watson and The Nuance Group of Switzerland. Commencing operation in 1998, Nuance-Watson (HK) is the leading retailer at the Hong Kong International Airport, operating 47 stores in two Terminals under 19 concessions, namely general merchandise, perfumes and cosmetics, audio-visual/electronics, brand boutiques, specialty stores and pharmaceutical products.

In 2006 and 2007, Nuance-Watson (HK) received the coveted Frontier Awards "Airport /Land-based Retailer of the Year" and "Best Partnership Initiative of the Year" respectively, the former being the highest honour of the travel retail industry worldwide. Since 1998, Nuance-Watson (HK) has received over 30 international and local awards in recognition of its excellence in operation, product merchandising and customer service.

Watsons Your Personal Store (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Estonia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Slovenia, Thailand and Turkey)

Watsons Your Personal Store, Asia's largest health and beauty chain, builds on its "Look Good, Feel Great, Have Fun" brand proposition to offer an unrivalled diversity of more than 25,000 products – ranging from medicines, cosmetics and toiletries to fashion items, confectionery, cards and toys - at over 1,500 stores. Watsons is the first personal store in Asia to launch the "Dare to Swear" price guarantee campaign which commits to maintaining the lowest prices for customers.

Watsons has also established itself as Asia's leading pharmacy with over 930 pharmacy counters, served by a team of pharmacists and health and fitness advisors professionally trained to deliver free health consultation.

DC (Ukraine)

DC is the largest and the only nationwide health and beauty retail chain in Ukraine. Established in 1997, DC has grown quickly to the current network of over 120 stores with 2,500 employees throughout the country. It is operated under the format of a convenience drugstore, offering a comprehensive mix of personal care and toiletry products.

Drogas (Latvia and Lithuania)

Drogas, acquired by A S Watson in June 2004, operates 70 stores in Latvia and has a 30 per cent share of the Latvian market. In 2001, the company was named "Best Retailer in Latvia" by the leading business newspaper Dienas Bizness.

Drogas opened its first store in Lithuania in 2001. It operates over 40 stores and is one of the fastest growing companies in the country.

Kruidvat (Belgium and Netherlands)

Kruidvat is a distinct market leader in the health and beauty sector in the Netherlands and one of the largest health and beauty retail chains in Belgium. Operating over 940 stores, Kruidvat is known for its unrivalled product range which combines high quality with highly competitive pricing. Kruidvat is also an industry innovator in retailing fast-moving non-cosmetic articles such as low-priced CDs, toys, decorative household items and photo services.

Rossmann (Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Poland)

Rossmann was founded in 1972 by Dirk Rossmann who opened the first health and beauty shop in Hannover, Germany. After the borders between East and West Europe were opened in the early 1990s, Rossmann started the Central Europe operation in Poland and thereafter expanded into Hungary and the Czech Republic. To date, the chain has a store network of over 1,800 stores. A S Watson has a joint venture partnership with Rossmann for its operation in four countries.

Savers (United Kingdom)

The Savers chain was founded in the United Kingdom in 1988 and was acquired by A S Watson in 2000 following its strong initial success. The chain operates on a mega discount format accentuated with simple store design, strong logistics and low operating cost. Savers' focus on fast-moving toiletries products has hit a chord within the marketplace, spurring a significant growth in store number over the past two years. Currently, it operates over 240 stores in the UK.

Superdrug (Ireland and United Kingdom)

Superdrug, one of the UK's leading health and beauty retailers, joined A S Watson in 2002.

Operating over 900 stores in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, Superdrug has a high potential of growth and is expected to surge in the coming years. Superdrug in the UK is known as a value retailer through a mix of unbeatable offers and deals on a wide range of everyday essentials, branded products and Christmas gifts.

Trekpleister (Netherlands)

With about 140 stores, Trekpleister has a very strong position in the Dutch market. Trekpleister caters to the traditional health and beauty segment and combines a friendly store atmosphere with successful promotions. The chain’s formula for success also includes an attractive range of general merchandise and private labels.

Spektr (Russia)

Spektr Group, established in 1990, is the market-leading health and beauty retail chain in St Petersburg, Russia. With over 40 stores and more than 500 employees, Spektr offers a comprehensive range of personal care, skincare, perfumery and cosmetics, and household products of local and international brands.

A S Watson's acquisition of Spektr in October 2005 marks an extension of the Group’s retail network to Russia, the sixth largest economy in the world in terms of PPP (Purchase Power Parity).

Luxury Perfumeries and Cosmetics Retail Brands

Marionnaud (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Morocco, The Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland)

Marionnaud, acquired by A S Watson in April 2005, is Europe's largest perfumeries and cosmetics retailer. Its reputation is built upon trust, which has driven it to become the leading perfumery chain in France, the home of fragrances, with a market share of 30 per cent. Its 1,230-plus stores stretch to 12 other countries, and it is the market leader in 10 of them.

ICI PARIS XL (Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands)

ICI PARIS XL was founded in Belgium in the late 1970's. It has become a leading perfumery chain in Belgium. ICI PARIS XL was established in the Netherlands in late 1997, and has grown at an amazing speed with at least one new store per month. The brand entersed Luxembourg in 2003.

The Perfume Shop ( Ireland and United Kingdom)

Founded in 1991, The Perfume Shop has developed a highly successful format in the UK fragrances sector. The business has grown consistently over the past five years, from 55 stores to over 160.

The Perfume Shop are located in both shopping centres and malls throughout the UK and Ireland, and sells over 300 different fragrance brands for men and women at affordable prices, online and at prime shopping locations.

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