AS Watson Group - A member of CK Hutchison Holdings

Watsons Continues its Expansion in GCC with the Opening of its New Flagship Store in Bahrain

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 09:45:58 +0000

AS Watson Group and Al-Futtaim Group jointly announce the opening of Watsons' new flagship store at City Centre Bahrain Mall, signifying the Watsons’ entry into a new market alongside the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and Qatar. This also marks the third store opening in three months in Bahrain, strengthening its presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Strategic Market, Huge Potential
Bahrain is one of the six countries of the GCC, presenting a dynamic and potential market with a surging demand for health and beauty products, driven by a predominantly young population – over two-thirds of Bahrainis are under the age of 35 – who are pursuing high-quality products. Increased awareness of beauty trends, influenced by social media and lifestyle shifts, has led customers to greater spending on personal grooming.

As a trusted beauty expert, Watsons is well-positioned to bring world-class brands and products that meet their needs, ensuring a seamless O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience while celebrating and enhancing Arabic beauty. With a projected market growth of USD38.8 million at a compound annual growth rate of 5% from 2024 to 2029, Bahrain presents an exciting opportunity for Watsons as part of its expansion strategy.

Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson Group, expressed her excitement about this milestone, “The expansion of Watsons health and beauty retail experience into Bahrain is an important milestone in our commitment in the GCC region. Just as important, this new flagship store further strengthens our partnership with Al-Futtaim Group to serve customers in this vibrant region where high-quality beauty and health products are increasingly in demand.”

Mr. Simon Naga, Vice President of Al-Futtaim Group, emphasised the strategic importance of this expansion, “The opening of our flagship Watsons store in Bahrain is a testament to our commitment to enhancing customer experiences across the region. As we continue to expand our footprint in the GCC market, we focus on delivering innovative retail solutions that meet the evolving needs of consumers.”

Watsons is “Where Beauty Comes to Shine”
The 200-square-meter flagship store leverages Bahrain's strategic location in the Gulf, showcasing over 200 local and international brands across meticulously designed zones. Key areas include the innovative Derma Zone, which features internationally-renowned products alongside personalised skincare recommendations, and the enticing Skincare Zone, where customers can explore popular K-beauty and J-beauty brands. Additionally, the store includes a chic Makeup Zone and Sustainable Zone, each thoughtfully tailored to meet a diverse range of customer needs.

As Watsons continues to expand, it remains committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and high-quality products that empower customers to Look Good, Do Good, and Feel Great.

Watsons Celebrates the Launch of its 600th Store in the Greater Bay Area and Watsons China’s 35th Anniversary

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 09:00:52 +0000

As Asia's No. 1 health and beauty brand, Watsons announces the launch of its 600th store in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), coinciding with Watsons China’s 35th anniversary. The store, located in Longgang Wanda Plaza, Shenzhen, is a health concept store and features a unique design with vibrant runways that reflect Watsons' commitment to health. The store features multiple specialised areas, offering a comprehensive range of health products to customers.

A Legacy of 183 Years : Our Purpose Endures
With a rich history spanning 183 years, Watsons began its journey as the “Canton Dispensary”, in Shamian, Guangzhou in 1828, dedicated to passionately serving local customers. It relocated to Hong Kong in 1841 and established the “Hong Kong Dispensary”, becoming the first pharmacy in Hong Kong to offer Western medicines. Throughout its history, Watsons has always prioritised community health and well-being, including offering free medicines to those in need.

Watsons has continuously expanded its business and developed the Mainland China market in 1989, staying true to its core values of servicing the people in need. Despite evolving through two centuries, Watsons remains committed to putting customers first and caring for the community. Today, it stands as a trusted brand known for its commitment to excellent customer service.

Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, said, “Over the past 180 years, Watsons has grown from Guangdong to a global presence with over 8,000 stores across Asia. We have navigated numerous challenges and celebrated many achievements along the way. The opening of our 600th store in GBA not only marks our significant growth but also reflects our deep connection with our customers. Our loyalty membership programme connects all cities within the GBA, offering seamless cross-border shopping experiences and membership benefits. This milestone highlights our confidence in future opportunities in GBA, and we remain committed to innovating and adapting to meet our customers' evolving needs.”

Heritage and Innovation: A Commitment to Excellence
Watsons has upheld its heritage of care and continues to support its community and fulfill its promise to customers by offering diverse, high-quality products while becoming an essential part of their lives.

To meet customers’ evolving needs, Watsons has embraced innovation by launching a seamless O+O shopping experience and introducing over 4,000 new products each year in GBA. Popular categories among customers in Hong Kong and Macau include healthcare, skincare, and daily necessities, while customers from Mainland China favour derma skincare, hair care, and colour cosmetics. When shopping cross-border, Hong Kong customers often look for skincare, derma skincare and oral care products, whereas Mainland China customers frequently shop for healthcare products.

Looking ahead, business expansion in GBA and Mainland China remains Watsons' core strategy. Backed by robust growth opportunities, Watsons is committed to further investing in GBA to enhance customer service and deliver an exceptional O+O shopping experience.

AS Watson Boosts Global Expansion by Unveiling its 16,800th Store Worldwide

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:25:18 +0000

AS Watson announced the grand opening of its 16,800th store worldwide, further consolidating its position as the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, with a portfolio of 12 brands operating across 29 markets. This store was opened in Rotterdam, marking a remarkable milestone in AS Watson’s ongoing expansion and its commitment to delivering a seamless and exceptional O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience.

Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson , expressed her excitement at the store opening ceremony, “The opening of our 16,800th store represents more than our growth as a company - it symbolises our commitment to serving the communities worldwide. With every store we open, we create jobs, foster customer relationships, and build lasting trust.”

“16,800 is a number with special meaning in Chinese culture. The number 6 symbolises ‘everything goes smoothly’ while 8 represents ‘good fortune’. We embrace the special meaning of this milestone and look forward to a future of lasting success and prosperity, not only for our business growth but also in extending these best wishes for a brighter future for the world during this festive Christmas season,” Malina added.

Commitment to Continuous Growth
Ed van de Weerd, CEO of AS Watson Benelux, remarked, "We’re honoured that AS Watson’s 16,800th store worldwide opens in vibrant Rotterdam, demonstrating AS Watson’s steadfast commitment to growth in the Benelux region and globally. As the No. 1 health and beauty retailer in the Netherlands, Kruidvat serves its customers with nearly 1,000 O+O stores and over 24,000 passionate colleagues, and has become an integral part of many Dutch people’s lives.”

The brand-new store will serve over 11,000 customers every week. As one of the largest Kruidvat stores, it spans over 770 square meters and is designed to enhance O+O shopping experience with clear in-store navigation. The store offers an extensive assortment of over 36,000 products, making it the largest selection among all Kruidvat stores.

The newly upgraded Kruidvat app delivers personalised offers and health advice to customers, enabling them to effortlessly manage their shopping lists and track their points balance, ensuring they always get the best deals. Additionally, the app's streamlined checkout process enhances convenience with click-and-collect options.

Looking ahead, AS Watson remains committed to innovation and excellence in customer experience, and will continue its growth journey with the purpose of putting a smile on the customers’ faces today and tomorrow.

Watson’s Wine Leads the Way in Price Reduction after the Government’s Liquor Tax Cuts

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 15:20:05 +0000

Watson's Wine, the leading specialised wine & spirits retailer in Hong Kong, announces its support for the government’s initiative to reduce duty rates on high-end liquor products, in alignment with the economic growth agenda published in the 2024 Policy Address.

Premium Spirits at New Competitive Prices
Effective immediately, Watson's Wine will roll out price cuts on a large range of carefully curated premium spirits, making world-class spirits more accessible to Hong Kong connoisseurs. Customers can enjoy savings on over 100 premium spirits priced above HK$1,000, regardless of whether the importers have already adjusted their prices (see Appendix). These price cuts apply to popular spirit brands like Cognac Tesseron, Macallan and Martell, with some reductions exceeding 20% and selected item reaching as high as nearly 60%. Through Watson’s Wine's network of trusted suppliers from reputable sources, customers can enjoy exceptional premium spirits at reduced prices.

Exciting Opportunities from New Spirit Store Format
In response to the favourable policy change on liquor, Watson's Wine will launch a dedicated premium spirits concept store format in 2025. This new concept will showcase an expansive array of fine spirits from rare whisky to artisanal Cognac, offering customers an unparalleled shopping venture with emerging categories like Chinese spirits.

Watson’s Wine has the ambition to grow the market share in spirits category by 25% in the next 3 years, and also leverage the vibrant space to create immersive customer experience for spirit-lovers like expert-led tastings, out-of-the-box culinary pairings, and sommelier masterclasses that will blend Cognac and whisky from the West with Chinese spirits from the East, where diverse traditions and craftsmanship converge.

Jeremy Stockman, Managing Director of Watson's Wine is excited about the change in liquor duty, "Watson’s Wine welcomes the government’s latest policy on spirits and firmly believes that this duty reduction will greatly benefit our customers and the industry at large. Through price reductions and investments in new spirits retail concept, together with the industry Watson’s Wine will help establish Hong Kong as a hub for high-end liquor."

The spirit flagship store will look to attract liquor connoisseurs and prospective large-order buyers looking to taste test from a wide selection of distinct and high-quality liquor from around the world.

Marionnaud Group Announces Strategic Reorganisation

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:50:07 +0000

Marionnaud Group today announced an organisational transformation, aimed at strengthening its position as a leading luxury beauty retailer in Europe. The reorganisation marks a strategic shift from a market-based management structure to an integrated, unified team model across all markets.

Under the leadership of Kulvinder Birring, who was appointed as CEO of Marionnaud Group in April, the company is implementing key changes to drive customer-centric operations and accelerate growth. The new structure will enable seamless integration across all markets, with functional expert teams providing leadership throughout all regions.

As part of this transformation, Emilio Leon has been appointed as Sales Operations Director of Marionnaud Group, transitioned from his previous role as Managing Director of Marionnaud Switzerland and Austria. In this new position, he will oversee and harmonise sales operations across all markets. Tatiana Anton has been appointed Shared Services Director of Marionnaud Group, relinquishing her previous role as General Manager of Marionnaud Central Europe. Tatiana will be responsible for managing shared services across all markets, focusing on implementing integrated, data-driven business solutions.

The Group extends its gratitude to Gabriele Betti, Deputy CEO of Marionnaud Group and Arianna Di Prospero, General Manager of Marionnaud Italy as they transition to new chapters in their careers. Their invaluable contributions have helped shape Marionnaud's success, and the company wishes them the very best in their future endeavours.

Watsons Fuels Growth by Opening Asia’s 8,000th Store

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 17:41:06 +0000

Dominic Lai, Chairman of AS Watson Group (third from left), Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson Group (third from right), Robert Sun, Regional Managing Director, H&B Asia & International Commercial Director of AS Watson Group (first from right) and Danilo Chiong, Managing Director of Watsons Philippines (first from left), celebrate the opening of Watsons’ 8,000th store in Asia

Dominic Lai, Chairman of AS Watson Group (second from right), Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson Group (second from left), Robert Sun, Regional Managing Director, H&B Asia & International Commercial Director of AS Watson Group (first from left) and Danilo Chiong, Managing Director of Watsons Philippines (first from right), officiate the opening ceremony of Watsons’ 8000th in Asia

Watsons, Asia’s No.1 health and beauty brand, supercharges the growth by opening its remarkable 8,000th store in Asia today. Located at SM Mall of Asia in Manila, the new store highlights Watsons' unwavering commitment to enhancing O+O (Offline plus Online) customer experience.

Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson Group, officiated the opening ceremony, “Today, I’m excited to celebrate the opening of Watsons’ 8,000th store in Asia, marking a significant milestone in our global expansion. The Philippines has been selected for this momentous occasion because it’s one of the fastest-rising economies in Asia and a strategic market for AS Watson. This vibrant and highly potential market has a young demographic that increasingly focuses on health and beauty, aligning perfectly with Watsons’ expertise.”

“8,000 represents a vast network that makes our products and services more accessible to customers everywhere. Combined with our O+O model, we are committed to serving the community anywhere, anytime. Each store creates local jobs, customer loyalty and strengthens brand trust. Special thanks to our dedicated team around Asia for making this possible.” Malina added.

Watsons began its journey in 1841. Over the years, it has transformed from one small dispensary in Hong Kong to Asia’s leading health and beauty retailer, now operating 8,000 stores in Asia. While Watsons has evolved with the times, its purpose remains unchanged: to put a smile on our customers’ faces, today and tomorrow.

Elevated O+O Shopping Experience
The new store is meticulously designed to enhance the shopping experience with a spacious layout and a stylish, contemporary design that meets customers’ diverse needs. Designated zones include a Premium Beauty zone featuring latest trending exclusive brands, advanced skin analyser, and dermatologist-recommended products. Meanwhile, Sustainable Choices zone offers a refill station for selected Naturals by Watsons products, along with a wide array of Clean Beauty products to empower customers in living sustainably.

The store has also introduced more self-checkout counters and Click & Collect services, allowing customers to effortlessly order online and swiftly pick up their purchases in-store within 30 minutes. To create a seamless O+O customer experience, Watsons Philippines has introduced an innovative online Health Supplement Advisor that guides customers to find the right product and offers personalised health consultations with pharmacists via live chat.

Danilo Chiong, Managing Director of Watsons Philippines, expressed excitement about the store opening, “Watsons operates over 1,100 stores in the Philippines, and we’re thrilled that the opening of Watsons’ 8,000th store in Asia is taking place here. This achievement showcases our commitment to providing the best health and beauty products and services, both offline and online. We look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional O+O shopping experience to help our customers Look Good, Do Good and Feel Great.”

The opening of Watsons’ 8,000th store in Asia marks not just a significant milestone for the brand but also a promise of innovation. Watsons will continue to expand its footprint and remain dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of its customers, ensuring that each visit is a delightful experience.

AS Watson Launches “Wanderer Watchers” to Fully Support Elderly with Dementia

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 14:24:53 +0000

AS Watson organises its large-scale volunteer event “Project LOL Elderly Visit” today to share love to community. Dominic Lai, Chairman of AS Watson Group (sixth from right), Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson Group (seventh from left), Karrie Chan, Deputy Director of Hong Kong Christian Service (fifth from right), Emily Lee, Deputy Chief Executive of Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association (sixth from left) and Florence Ho, General Manager, Jockey Club Centre for Positive Aging (fourth from right), together with AS Watson Group's management team and its business partners, announce the launch of its community support programme “Wanderer Watchers”, which aims to create a Dementia Care Network that is instrumental in detecting and locating missing dementia patients.

“AS Watson Project LOL Elderly Visit has partnered with the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association and Hong Kong Christian Service, mobilising over 1,100 volunteers from its business units and 47 partners to visit 2,000 elderly in nine districts across Hong Kong.

Currently, over 100,000 people in Hong Kong suffer from dementia, with one in ten individuals aged 70 or above affected by the condition. The number of patients is expected to continue rising.

AS Watson today announced the launch of its community support programme “Wanderer Watchers”, which aims to create a Dementia Care Network that is instrumental in detecting and locating missing dementia patients.

Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson said, “Rooted in Hong Kong for over 180 years, AS Watson has always been passionate about serving our community with a caring heart, especially for the senior citizens who have contributed tremendously to society. Our ‘Wanderer Watchers’ is a support network woven with love. With the collective strength of our 500 stores across Hong Kong, we hope to support every elderly individual and dementia patient in our community, bringing them love and care.”

Extensive Store Network to Support Dementia Patients
Currently, over 100,000 people in Hong Kong suffer from dementia, with one in ten individuals aged 70 or above affected by the condition. The number of patients is expected to continue rising.

Dedicated to supporting the elderly and people with dementia, AS Watson’s relentless commitment has brought “Wanderer Watchers” to fruition. As the first retailer in Hong Kong to partner with the Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing, “Dementia Angel App” has been installed on over 1,200 mobile devices at more than 500 Watsons, PARKnSHOP, FORTRESS, and Watson’s Wine stores located in 18 districts across Hong Kong. The programme has effectively expanded the network for detecting dementia patients who get lost in the city.

Kwun Tong, Kwai Tsing, Eastern District, Sha Tin and Wong Tai Sin are the five key districts with the highest numbers of missing elderly cases. In light of this, this year’s “AS Watson Project LOL Elderly Visit has partnered with the Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association and Hong Kong Christian Service, mobilising over 1,100 volunteers from its business units and 47 partners to visit 2,000 elderly in nine districts across Hong Kong. To put the volunteers’ love and care into action, special visits were arranged to three of these five key districts, where simple memory tests were conducted to screen the elderly for early signs of dementia.

Malina added, “Since the introduction of ‘Project LOL Elderly Visit’ in 2016, AS Watson has been dedicated to support every elderly individual in the community. This year, with the launch of ‘Wanderer Watchers’, we hope to leverage our extensive store network to support even more people in need within the community. To enhance the impact of ‘Wanderer Watchers’, we will provide dementia-related training to over 10,000 of our colleagues, equipping them with the knowledge to better understand dementia patients and to offer appropriate assistance to them. Additionally, we will devote our efforts to promote public awareness through a variety of educational activities, offering support to both the patients and their caregivers.”

Watsons Athletic Club Celebrates 35th Anniversary and Nurtures Local Youth Athletic Talent

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 16:25:56 +0000

The WAC Annual Challenge attracts more than 6,500 participants joining 27 events this year. Young athletes poured their hearts into the competition, striving for excellence and success in the Annual Challenge.

The Kids Athletics programme provides children with opportunities and learning experience to engage in track and field activities with other athletes on sportsground, and further enhances youth athletic development.

The beneficiaries' families from InspiringHK Sports Foundation are invited to participate in the Kids’ Athletics Challenge with Watsons Volunteer Team.

Ms. Rebecca Chiu Wing Yin, Community Relations Manager of AS Watson (First from the right), expressed that Watsons Athletic Club promises to provide more opportunities for kids and youth to engage in athletics, nurturing more outstanding Hong Kong track and field athletes.

The athletes are excited to receive the recognitions from Watsons Athletic Club.

In recent years, young athletes demonstrating exceptional performances both at a local and international level. Moreover, the Education Bureau is considering on placing more emphasis on sports for grading students for secondary school placement. This reflects that society pays more and more attention to sports development in Hong Kong. Established by AS Watson Group in 1989, Watsons Athletic Club has been a steadfast advocate for local youth engagement in track and field activities, acting as a trailblazer in corporate support for sports development. To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Watsons Athletic Club, its signature event - the WAC Annual Challenge commenced at Wan Chai Sports Ground on September 28-29 and with upcoming events scheduled on October 5-6. The event has drawn over 6,500 participants joining with the youngest participant aged at 5 years old, recorded a full complement of entries for the 5th year.

From Local To Olympic Stage
Ms. Rebecca Chiu Wing Yin, Community Relations Manager of AS Watson, expressed, "As a former athlete and a mother, I am delighted to see an increasing number of corporates investing in providing sports participation and training opportunities for the next generation. Watsons Athletic Club has been established for 35 years and it is instrumental in encouraging youth to engage in local track and field development through diverse activities, which have nurtured thousands of athletes. Many of them have flourished on both local and international platforms, including Felix Diu Chun-hei, Hong Kong's sprint representative at the Paris Olympics. Witnessing his international representation for Hong Kong deeply moves me, and I firmly believe that Watsons Athletic Club will cultivate more professional athletes with ongoing dedication."

Diverse Competitions Promote Sports Inclusivity
The WAC Annual Challenge is recognised by the Hong Kong China Association of Athletics Affiliates as an accredited event and one of the premier local youth athletics events for athletes to showcase their talents. This year's event has featured respective categories for male and female participants, dividing into six age groups. The Annual Challenge involves a total of 13 track events, 6 field events, and 2 relay events, tailored to the standards of each division. With the commitment of nurturing kids' sports development, the Annual Challenge has been organising the “Kids’ Athletics Challenge”. The principle of competition rules is based on “IAAF Kids’ Athletics Programme”. This year, Watsons Hong Kong extended invitations to beneficiaries’ families from InspiringHK Sports Foundation jointly participate in the Kids’ Athletics Challenge with Watsons Volunteer Team.

To celebrate its 35th anniversary, the Annual Challenge will introduce a new relay competition, "4x100 Mixed Gender Relay Challenge" this Sunday, in which some groups and organisations are invited to join, including Hong Chi Association, Hong Kong Baptist University College of International Education - Sport and Recreation Leadership Department, and Hong Kong Elite Athletes Association. This aims to spark positivity, encouraging the community to get involved in social inclusion and sports development.

Cultivating Athletic Stars
Beyond fostering competition and exchange, Watsons Athletic Club places significant emphasis on talent discovery and daily training. Over the past 35 years, the club has enlisted numerous renowned coaches to offer members professional training across track and field disciplines. Watsons Athletic Club has nurtured a wealth of talents over the years, currently comprising over 1,400 members. Nearly 100 athletes and coaches are also the members of Team Hong Kong, contributing to nearly 40% of the entire team, including Felix Diu Chun-hei, who represented Hong Kong in sprinting at the Paris Olympics; Jessica Ching Siu Nga, racewalking representative at the Tokyo Olympics; Ng Ka Fung, the record holder for the 100m in Hong Kong; as well as rising stars Chan Yat Lok, Chloe Pak Hoi-man. Watsons Athletic Club also has year-end performance encouragement bonus and record breaker bonus to encourage and reward athletes and coaches with outstanding performances over the year.

Looking ahead, the club will continue to commit to encouraging kids and youth to participate in sports, cultivating more elite athletes, contributing to the advancement of athletics in Hong Kong.

AS Watson Celebrates World Pharmacists Day with Over 3,000 Pharmacists Driving Health and Wellness

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 10:19:38 +0000

Pharmacies at Watsons

Pharmacies at Superdurg

Superdrug Pharmacy

Launch of International Pharmacist Network

World Pharmacists Day is on 25 September, and it’s an annual opportunity to call out the great work pharmacists do every day.

“On this special day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to more than 3,000 pharmacists and over 9,000 health professionals who work with AS Watson around the world, making our retail network a preferred destination for trusted health advice, health services and products,” said Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson.

"Our pharmacists play a vital role in the shopping experience, offering the human interaction that instills confidence and reassurance in customers seeking health solutions," Malina continued.

Based on the company’s global insights, customers who shop health and wellness products spend three times more than non-health shoppers. Notably, there’s a remarkable year-on-year growth of over 20% in the young customer segment seeking health products. While the vitamins and dietary supplements (VDS) sector alone has experienced over 10% sales growth, the increasing demand for medicated skincare solutions delivered over 20% growth.

Malina explained how the company addresses the increasing customer needs in health, “We are witnessing sustainable growth in our health and wellness retail sales over multiple years. In response to this global demand, we expanded our health product range by nearly 20%. Besides we have introduced new digital enabled services in many markets.”

Tech-empowered AS Watson International Pharmacist Network
Malina is excited to announce, “To mark the significance of our pharmacists and our commitment to empowering them to serve our customers to lead healthier lives, we are launching a global network app exclusively for the AS Watson International Pharmacists Network. The app serves as an exchange platform for our health professionals from around the world to acquire new knowledge, exchange best practices and to support each other across our markets.”

Personalised O+O Health Services
AS Watson’s dedication extends beyond products, offering comprehensive O+O health services, including consultations and health checks, facilitated by our global network of pharmacists.

In an era where technology plays a crucial role in health decision-making, AS Watson is enhancing its offerings with offline and online health consultations, including the innovative e-Doctor service. For example, the “Watsons eDr” app enables customers to connect with healthcare professionals for online consultations, with same-day medication delivery. Additionally, Superdrug’s “Video GP” service provides rapid access to General Practitioners via video calls.

Across regions - including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia - customers can access one-on-one health consultations with pharmacists, receiving personalised advice and recommendations that have garnered positive feedback.

AS Watson Group Retail Academy Nurtures Over 5,200 Retail Talents In the Past 5 Years

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:19:38 +0000

AS Watson Group Retail Academy Qualifications Framework (QF) Recognised Qualifications Presentation Ceremony was held in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today. AS Watson Group Retail Academy is proud to nurture more than 5,200 retail talents in the past five years, providing them with an opportunity to apply their learning to work and develop their own retail career paths.

AS Watson Group has always been people-oriented, devoting substantial resources to staff training by fully subsidising potential talents for the "Professional Diploma in Retail Management" (including the QF level 4 & 5 programme), and providing paid leave for employees to attend classes during working hours. The Qualifications Presentation Ceremony was hosted by AS Watson Group today, where a total of 70 employees were recognised, of whom 52 were recognised for their accomplishments at the QF Level 4 (equivalent to an Associate Degree level) and 18 achieved QF level 5 (equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree), embarking on their journey towards the goal of becoming an outstanding retail practitioner.

In 2013, AS Watson Group became the first company in the retail sector to offer its staff professional and comprehensive courses recognised by the QF. Over the last 10 years, AS Watson Group has provided comprehensive professional training for staff across PARKnSHOP, Watsons, FORTRESS and Watson’s Wine. In 2016, AS Watson Group launched the industry’s first "Professional Diploma in Retail Management", designed with "The Specification of Competency Standards". In 2018, AS Watson Group established Hong Kong’s first retail academy. Since then, the academy has witnessed more than 5,200 employees who completed the recognised programmes, accumulating over 1.6 million hours of learning, setting the new standard for retail.

Since then, all store managers in more than 500 retail stores have obtained qualifications of QF level 4, and 85 employees have achieved QF level 5, proving that employees of different backgrounds and academic qualifications can gain professional recognition in their retail careers.

Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, remarked at the presentation ceremony, "Founded in Hong Kong for over 180 years, AS Watson’s goal is not only emphasising company development, but also serving as a vital platform for every colleague to develop, so that they can fully realise their potential and grow alongside with the Group. As such, we were pioneers in introducing qualifications framework courses and establishing the first retail academy. To nurture future leaders of retail in Hong Kong, we were the first in the industry to launch the ‘Professional Diploma in Retail Management’, which is equivalent to a bachelor's degree level. We believe that through ongoing learning, each of our colleagues can realise their potential, embrace opportunities and overcome challenges together."

Dr. Keith Chau, Senior Continuing Education Consultant at PolyU SPEED, said, “This QF Recognised Qualifications Presentation Ceremony showcases the seamless collaboration between the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and AS Watson Group, and witnesses our efforts in talent development in these 8 years. The achievements of the graduates fully demonstrate the excellent results from this collaboration and lay the foundation for future careers in retail. With the rapid advancement of technology, continuous learning will be key to success in the future. We look forward to seeing graduates to push the boundaries and join hands to create a better tomorrow.”
AS Watson Group will continue to invest in talent nurturing and is committed to providing 200,000 job opportunities and 5 million hours of training for young people globally by 2030, offering various learning and experiential opportunities to employees and nurturing them to become future leaders in the retail industry.