Page 24 - Sphere No.10 (Dec 2003)

C O V E R S T O R Y
SPHERE
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“Fortunately, almost everybody speaks English,” he says.
“With management, you need an effective team, and effec-
tive delegation. Hutchison is a financial holding company but
has had the ability to put together a team of international tal-
ent. That is why this company has done so well. Hutchison is
the only Hong Kong company ever to target the rest of the
world effectively.”
With its expanded multinational family of businesses, ASW
has chosen to operate eight existing health & beauty brand iden-
tities under its corporate umbrella, setting it apart from other
global chains, which typically homogenise after an acquisition.
“If there is value in the local brand, you have to get behind the
local brand,” says Wade.“It is a point of difference in our opera-
tions. I can’t think of another retail business that operates differ-
ent chains.”
The result is that the company operates on many levels, often
within one market.
In the Netherlands, for example, Kruidvat trades side by side
Founded in 1966, Superdrug is a leading health & beauty retailer in the UK with more than 700 stores nationwide. Known for offering good value, the
chain carries over 6,000 products. It also launches hundreds of new own-brand products each year, working with suppliers to identify new trends and turn
them into affordable high-street reality.All stores offer photographic services and around 25% have in-store pharmacies and/or in-store perfumeries.
910 cities …
There is still enormous
opportunity for expansion,
particularly in former
communist-bloc countries