Love Island boosts fake tan sales at Superdrug

SUPERDRUG’S tie-up with Love Island has helped drive a 16pc profits leap as fans of the hit TV show snapped up bronzer, make-up and hair products.

The chain posted pre-tax profits of £92.9m for 2017, up from £80.4m the previous year, with like-for-like sales 2.5pc higher.

Superdrug, which has continued its sponsorship of Love Island this summer, said overall revenues rose 2.3pc to £1.2bn as it bucked wider woes on the High Street.

It opened 22 more stores last year – taking its total at year-end to 804 across the UK and Ireland.

The group – owned by AS Watson, which is ultimately controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-Shing – invested £31m last year, mainly on the stores and refurbishments as well as its digital IT capability.

Peter Macnab, chief executive of AS Watson health and beauty division in the UK, said: ‘We are pleased with the company’s performance.’