Who Owns Superdrug?
Superdrug is owned through AS Watson Group. The UK business is operated by Superdrug Stores plc, which is controlled by A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited; the wider AS Watson group is ultimately controlled by CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, the Hong Kong-listed multinational group. Current Companies House records and Superdrug’s own corporate information support this ownership structure.
Direct Answer: Who Owns Superdrug?
The company behind Superdrug in the UK is Superdrug Stores plc, company number 00807043. Companies House lists the company as active and identifies A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited as its active person with significant control, with ownership of 75% or more of the shares and voting rights and the right to appoint or remove directors.
Superdrug itself states that it is part of AS Watson Group. At the next level up, AS Watson is the retail business within CK Hutchison Holdings Limited. CK Hutchison’s 2025 annual report reports a 75% attributable interest in AS Watson Holdings Limited and lists Superdrug Stores plc within its retail subsidiaries.
In simple terms, the ownership chain is:
Superdrug → Superdrug Stores plc → A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited → AS Watson Group → CK Hutchison Holdings Limited
For comparisons with other high-street businesses, see our UK retail brand owners guide.
Ownership Structure Explained
Superdrug Stores plc
Superdrug is the consumer-facing retail brand, while Superdrug Stores plc is the UK legal company operating the business and the Superdrug website.
Superdrug’s current terms state that Superdrug Stores plc operates superdrug.com. The company is registered in England and Wales under number 00807043, with a registered office at 51 Sydenham Road, Croydon, Surrey. Companies House records show that the company was incorporated on 28 May 1964 and remains active.
This distinction matters because a shop name or brand is not necessarily the same thing as the registered company behind it. The WhoOwns ownership glossary explains the difference between a brand, operating company, parent company, shareholder and ultimate parent.
A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited
The immediate controlling company shown in Superdrug’s UK corporate records is A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited.
Companies House records identify it as Superdrug Stores plc’s active person with significant control. Its recorded control includes ownership of at least 75% of the shares, at least 75% of the voting rights and the right to appoint or remove directors.
Superdrug has also previously described itself in its official corporate reporting as a wholly owned subsidiary of A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited.
AS Watson Group
A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited forms part of the wider AS Watson Group.
Superdrug’s own corporate website explicitly says that the retailer is part of AS Watson Group. AS Watson also lists Superdrug among its health and beauty brands and says Superdrug operates more than 800 stores across the UK and Ireland, including around 200 pharmacies.
AS Watson is a large international retail group operating brands across multiple markets. Superdrug therefore is not an independent retail group even though customers primarily encounter the Superdrug name.
If you are trying to trace another brand through several corporate layers, use our brand parent company lookup guide.
CK Hutchison Holdings
At the top of Superdrug’s controlling corporate structure is CK Hutchison Holdings Limited.
Superdrug’s own privacy information describes AS Watson Group as part of CK Hutchison Holdings, while CK Hutchison identifies AS Watson as its retail business. CK Hutchison’s latest annual reporting for the year ended 31 December 2025 reports a 75% group interest in AS Watson Holdings Limited.
It is therefore more precise to say that Superdrug is owned through AS Watson Group and ultimately controlled by CK Hutchison, rather than simply describing CK Hutchison as the company operating Superdrug shops in the UK.
When Did AS Watson Buy Superdrug?
Superdrug became part of AS Watson in 2002.
Before that, Superdrug had been sold to Dutch retailer Kruidvat Group in 2001. AS Watson then acquired Kruidvat Group in 2002, bringing Superdrug and several other European health and beauty businesses into its portfolio. Superdrug’s own history describes AS Watson as its current owner, while AS Watson’s corporate history records the acquisition of Kruidvat Group and Superdrug in 2002.
An announcement from Hutchison Whampoa at the time said that AS Watson had agreed to acquire Kruidvat Group for approximately €1.3 billion.
Who Owns the Superdrug Trademark?
The company operating Superdrug and the owner of a particular Superdrug trade mark should not automatically be treated as the same legal question.
Recent UK Intellectual Property Office records provide evidence that Superdrug Stores plc holds or applies for Superdrug-related trade marks. For example, 2026 UK IPO journal entries for marks including SUPERDRUG EXTRACTS, SUPERDRUG FANTASY and SUPERDRUG SELECTED name Superdrug Stores plc.
That does not mean every trade mark containing the Superdrug name must have the same registered proprietor. Large businesses may hold different word marks, logos and product-range marks through different companies, and ownership can also vary by country.
If the exact legal proprietor of a specific Superdrug mark matters, search that particular mark on the UK Intellectual Property Office register rather than assuming that the parent company owns it.
How to Verify the Information
Superdrug’s ownership can be checked using several official sources rather than relying on a single company profile.
Start with Companies House. Search for Superdrug Stores plc using company number 00807043. The record confirms the company’s status and provides access to its filing history, accounts, officers and persons with significant control. The current PSC record identifies A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited as the controlling corporate entity.
Next, check Superdrug’s own corporate and legal pages. Its corporate website states that Superdrug is part of AS Watson Group, while its website terms identify Superdrug Stores plc as the company operating the site.
For the wider group relationship, check AS Watson and CK Hutchison corporate information and annual reports. CK Hutchison’s latest annual report can be used to confirm its interest in AS Watson and the position of Superdrug within the group’s retail operations.
Finally, use the UK Intellectual Property Office when the question concerns a specific Superdrug trade mark rather than ownership of the retail company.
Ownership structures can change after acquisitions, disposals or internal reorganisations, so current records should always be checked before relying on an older ownership claim.
Common Misunderstandings
Is AS Watson the same company as Superdrug? No. Superdrug is a retail brand operated in the UK by Superdrug Stores plc. AS Watson is the wider retail group in which the business sits.
Is CK Hutchison the direct operator of Superdrug stores? No. CK Hutchison is the wider controlling corporate group. The UK operating company identified on Superdrug’s website is Superdrug Stores plc.
Does being a person with significant control mean the same thing as being the brand or trade mark owner? No. A PSC record describes control over a company. It does not automatically establish ownership of every brand name or intellectual property right associated with that company.
Is Superdrug owned by Boots? No. Superdrug and Boots are separate retail businesses with different ownership structures. See who owns Boots for the ownership structure behind Boots.
These distinctions are important when researching any consumer brand. Our brand ownership database provides the wider lookup route for other brands and retailers.
Related Ownership Guides
To research another retailer or brand, continue with the guide that best matches the ownership question:
- UK retail brand owners — compare the companies and groups behind major UK retailers.
- Brand parent company lookup — trace a consumer brand through its parent-company structure.
- Who owns this brand — find the most appropriate records for checking a specific brand owner.
- Who owns Boots — see the ownership structure behind another major UK health and beauty retailer.
- Ownership glossary — understand terms such as parent company, subsidiary, shareholder, PSC, ultimate parent and trade mark owner.
FAQs
Who owns Superdrug?
Superdrug is owned through AS Watson Group. The UK business is operated by Superdrug Stores plc, with A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited recorded at Companies House as its controlling corporate entity. The wider group is ultimately controlled by CK Hutchison Holdings Limited.
Is Superdrug owned by AS Watson?
Yes. Superdrug’s corporate website states that it is part of AS Watson Group, and AS Watson includes Superdrug in its international portfolio of retail brands.
Is Superdrug owned by CK Hutchison?
Superdrug is ultimately within the CK Hutchison Holdings corporate group, but CK Hutchison is not the UK company directly operating Superdrug stores. Superdrug sits below AS Watson in the group structure.
Who owns Superdrug in the UK?
The UK business is Superdrug Stores plc, company number 00807043. Its Companies House record identifies A.S. Watson (Health & Beauty UK) Limited as the active person with significant control.
Is Superdrug a British company?
Superdrug Stores plc is a company registered in England and Wales and has its registered office in Croydon, Surrey. However, it belongs to the international AS Watson group, which sits within CK Hutchison Holdings.
Who owns the Superdrug trade mark?
Trade mark ownership needs to be checked for the particular mark concerned. Recent UK IPO records for several Superdrug-branded marks name Superdrug Stores plc, but this should not be taken as proof that the company holds every Superdrug-related mark in every territory.
Can Superdrug’s ownership change?
Yes. Companies can be sold, reorganised or transferred between subsidiaries. Superdrug’s current ownership position should therefore be checked against the latest Companies House filings, official company information, UK IPO records where relevant and current AS Watson or CK Hutchison corporate reports.