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Hutchison owns the A S Watson Group (ASW), one of the best-known retail groups in Asia and the world’s leading health and beauty retailer. Its retail division has a portfolio of 20 retail brands, including some of the most famous high street names in Europe and Asia. The A S Watson Group operates over 10,000 outlets worldwide. Following the acquisition of Marionnaud, the largest perfumery and cosmetic retailer in France, the A S Watson Group has acquired the UK-based perfumery chain The Perfume Shop and the health & beauty chain Spektr in Russia. In 2006, ASW has acquired DC (rebranded as Watsons in March 2011), the largest health & beauty retail chain in Ukraine.

A S Watson also manufactures and distributes a wide range of water and beverage brands in Asia and Europe.

EUROPEAN INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Health and Beauty Chains | Luxury Perfumeries and Cosmetics Retail Brands

In Europe, the A S Watson Group operates over 6,400 health and beauty retail stores and over 1,600 luxury perfumeries and cosmetics stores under 11 brands covering 21 countries.

Health and Beauty Chains

Kruidvat (Netherlands, Belgium)
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 990 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.


   

Trekpleister (Netherlands)
With over 130 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.

     

Rossmann (Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary)
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 2,400 stores. A S Watson has a joint venture partnership with Rossmann for its operation in four countries.

     

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

Operating 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.

     

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 230 stores in the UK.

     

Watsons (Ukraine)
DC, recently rebranded as Watsons, 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 230 stores throughout the country. It is operated under the format of a convenience drugstore, offering a comprehensive mix of personal care and toiletry products.

With the introduction of Watsons in the market, the brand aims to deliver more quality products, greater value and superior customer service to consumers across the Ukraine.

  DC
     

Drogas (Latvia and Lithuania)
Drogas, Drogas, acquired by A S Watson in June 2004, operates over 120 stores in Latvia and Lithuania, with 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 is one of the fastest growing companies in the country.

     

Spektr (Russia)
Spektr Group, established in 1990, is the market-leading health and beauty retail chain in St Petersburg, Russia. With over 50 stores, 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, Italy, 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 an extensive coverage of 1,200 stores in 11 European countries, and it is the market leader in 10 of them.

 

ICI PARIS XL (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg)
ICI PARIS XL was founded in Belgium in the late 1960's. It has become a leading perfumery chain in Belgium. ICI PARIS XL was established in the Netherlands in late 1997. The brand then entered Luxembourg in 2003. It is now the leading chain in the Benelux market with 250 stores.

 

The Perfume Shop (United Kingdom and Ireland)
Founded in 1991, The Perfume Shop has developed a highly successful format in the UK fragrances sector. Since A S Watson acquired it in August 2005, the business has grown consistently from 55 stores to 250.

The Perfume Shop is 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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