Page 10 - Sphere No.13 (Dec 2004)

SPHERE 8
Newsbites
Ferrari Boosts Sales Drive
A Ferrari driven by
Michael Schumacher
in a Formula One
Grand Prix race was
on show at Hong
Kong Airport from
mid September to
the end of October, attracting crowds of
admiring fans. Jointly organised by airport
retailer Nuance-Watson (HK) and its
supplier GP Asia, the exhibition helped
boost sales of Ferrari merchandise on sale
at Nuance-Watson’s The Atrium store.
A Fine Nose
Paolo Basso, an employee of HWL’s wine
wholesaler Badaracco, represented
Switzerland at the world sommelier
championships held in Athens in October.
A.S. Watson (ASW) in August exercised
its option to purchase a 40% stake in
Dirk Rossmann GmbH, the German
health & beauty retail chain.
The acquisition of the Kruidvat Group
in 2002 brought to ASW a network of
Rossmann stores in Poland, Hungary
and the Czech Republic on a 50-50 JV
basis. From the same deal, ASW had
the option to purchase 40% of the
German operation.
Rossmann has a total network of over
1,100 stores and is one of the top three
players in Germany with 786 stores.
Rossmann will maintain its manage-
ment over day-to-day operations in
Germany while ASW has representation
on the board.
In another strategic deal announced
Smart Fortress
Confirming its commitment to
innovation, passion and dedication,
Fortress has unveiled a HK$10 million
branding campaign under the slogan
“Inspiring Smart Living” with the goal
of putting its customers on the digital
pathway towards smarter and more
enjoyable lifestyles.
Hong Kong’s leading personal electron-
ics and home appliance retailer
connects with more than 30 million
customers per year through 60 outlets.
Stepping Up
Watsons’ business
partner Boots
opened its first
concept store in Hong Kong at the
International Finance Centre (IFC) Mall
on Sept. 7. Ten additional distribution
points are due to be open by the end of 2004.
Healthy Growth
Watsons HK opened its 50th pharmacy
counter on Oct. 6 at a store in Causeway
Bay. The Watsons health team is comprised
of 100 registered pharmacists and 150 trained
health and fitness advisors. Watsons has
pioneered various health programmes,
offering free health tests as well as counselling
to encourage correct drug compliance. It also
provides a free Pharmacist Hotline to respond
to public health enquiries.
Watsons plans to open 15 more stores and
five pharmacies by the end of 2004.
Pharmaceutical Tie-up
HutchisonMedipharma Ltd (HMPL),
a pharmaceutical company under Hutchison
Whampoa (China) Ltd, began operations
in Shanghai on Oct. 25. HMPL is a world-
class facility specialising in R&D, production
and distribution of herbal and traditional
Chinese medicine.
HMPL is focused on registering new
drugs derived from Chinese medicine in
international markets.
The company has built a solid platform for
research and development on cancer and
auto-immune diseases and has established
a strong team comprised of local and interna-
tional pharmaceutical professionals. HMPL
has so far applied for patents on 25 items.
Watsons China on Sept. 30
celebrated its 15th year of setting
up business in the Mainland.
Noted
ASW Expands Health & Beauty Operations
in November, ASW has formed
a 50-50 JV with Korean retail company
LGMart Co, signifying the expansion of
its flagship Watsons chain into the Korean
market. The new company will be named
GS-Watsons and the retail chain will be
launched under the Watsons banner.
GS-Watsons will open its first store in
early 2005 and aims to establish itself
as the leader in the Korea’s
high potential health
& beauty
market, with
plans to open more than 10
stores per year thereafter.
The expansion extends the
ASW group’s
global presence to 20
markets worldwide.
R E T A I L & M A N U F A C T U R I N G