The AS Watson Group in the UK today 25 September 2006 announces that it has promoted Euan Sutherland to the position of Chief Executive Officer of AS Watson (Health & Beauty) UK. Euan will continue to manage Superdrug and will take on additional responsibility for Savers in the UK reporting directly to AS Watson's Group Managing Director, Ian Wade.
The group also announces today that it has signed a lease for a new distribution centre for its Superdrug and Savers retail chains which represents an investment of G132 million in its UK supply chain network. The business is experiencing a period of rapid growth and change with plans to grow from 1,175 stores currently to 1,800 over the next ten years; the signing of this new distribution centre ensures the necessary support for this future growth.
The new distribution centre and investment in new stores in the UK over the next ten years is a vote of confidence from the AS Watson Group in the potential in the UK health and beauty market and Euan will be responsible for driving this growth.
He joined the AS Watson Group in September 2004 as chief operating officer of Superdrug and was promoted last year to managing director, driving a period of healthy sales and growth figures. In 2005, G28 million was invested in upgrading existing stores and 22 new stores were opened.
Euan and the team at Superdrug are successfully repositioning Superdrug as Britain's most fashionable beauty and health retailer driving sales through the introduction of new ranges, exclusive launches and investment in service levels in its 735 stores through the introduction of its Retail Academy. Results for three months to 30 June 2006 show lfl sales up 4.2 per cent, total growth up 7.3 per cent and 16 new stores opened with plans to open a total of 41 this year.
Savers has 440 stores and plans to reposition Savers as the UK's best value local community health, household and beauty store will be announced in the coming months.
The distribution centre lease is with the developer ProLogis and the distribution centre is located in Dunstable, South Bedfordshire. Construction completes on Friday, 29 September 2006 and provides 536,000 square feet of warehouse and office space. Extensive development and testing activity will now take place and it is expected to be operational from early 2008. Approximately 500 new jobs will be created at this new site in Dunstable.
Ian Wade, Group Managing Director for AS Watson says; "These are exciting developments for the group, we are confident in our ability to grow our brands and our people in the UK."
