Savers (UK retailer)
UK discount chain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Savers Health and Beauty Limited, trading as Savers, is a discount chain of more than 500 stores, owned by AS Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Ltd, which is part of AS Watson.[2][a] It is a value retailer selling a variety of health, beauty, household goods, medicines and fragrances.[4]
- Sourcepole Limited (1987–1988)
- Savers Drug Stores Limited (1988–1990)
- Savers Drugstores plc (1990–1996)[1]
| |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Dunstable, Luton England |
Key people | Dominic Lai (Group Managing Director) Doug Winchester (Managing Director) |
| Products | Health & Beauty Products |
| Owner | AS Watson |
| Parent | CK Hutchison Holdings |
| Website | savers |
History
The company gradually expanded throughout the 1990s before acquiring the 100-strong Supersave chain of drugstores from GHEA. The company grew to 176 stores before being sold to AS Watson, the retail and manufacturing arm of CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, in July 2000.[5]
Subsequently, AS Watson acquired Kruidvat, the owner of the chain Superdrug, in 2002.[6] Following this, many Savers stores were converted to the Superdrug format, though some later reverted to the Savers brand.[7][8]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, whilst Savers stores remained open, store footfall fell by 60% during lockdown, with the company receiving £2.3 million from the Government's coronavirus job retention scheme.[9] Between 2022 and 2023, new stores were opened, however the number of company employees reduced, resulting in increased annual profits.[10] By early 2025 the company had 500 stores, with plans to open over 30 more stores in the next year, with expansion focused in the south east of Britain.[11][12]
The company is based in Dunstable, Bedfordshire;[13] with the main office building doubling as one of A.S. Watson's large UK distribution centres serving Savers, Superdrug and The Perfume Shop.[14] The company's registered office is Hutchinson House, Battersea, London.[15]
