1,000 new jobs as Superdrug expands

SUPERDRUG’S owner plans to create more than 1,000 jobs in the UK.

Hong Kong firm AS Watson, which owns Superdrug, the Perfume Shop and Savers, will open 88 stores across the country.

There will be 30 more Superdrug stores, 45 more Savers stores and The Perfume Shop will open 17 stores. AS Watson said the Superdrug expansion will create 650 jobs, Savers 450 and Perfume Shop 78 roles.

The move comes despite a slump on the High Street, which has been grappling with rising inflation and the growth of online shopping.

Dominic Lai, managing director of AS Watson, said: ‘We are under a lot of pressure, with Brexit uncertainty and sterling going down, but we will continue to invest in the UK.’

Superdrug has so far managed to avoid the high street slow down and last week revealed its full-year profits jumped 41pc to £80.4m in 2016, with sales up 10pc to £1.2bn.