Aside from Singapore, DFI will serve as Holland & Barrett’s (H&B) exclusive distribution partner in Hong Kong, with more markets added to the pipeline further down the road.
H&B’s products are now available through selected Guardian Singapore stores and the Guardian Singapore app.
Vitamins and supplements and nutritional solutions focused on areas such as immunity, gut health, sleep, beauty-from-within, and healthy aging are some examples of products ranged in Guardian.
Available in-store and online, the products would also be recommended alongside personalized health guidance supported by professional in-store advice, and technology-enabled wellness services, including AI-powered skin and scalp assessments.
The partnership was announced at a signing ceremony yesterday (June 3).
“By combining Holland & Barrett’s wellness expertise with DFI’s strong retail presence and local market insight, we have an exciting opportunity to make trusted, science-led wellness solutions more accessible and relevant to everyday life across Asia,” said Gordon Farquhar, international managing director, H&B.
The British health supplement chain exited Singapore last March, after its franchise partner Jay Gee Health (PTE) Ltd – also known as MA Supplements PTE. Ltd – abruptly closed down all online and offline stores. A check on Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) showed that MA Supplements was in liquidation.
At that point, Jay Gee Health (PTE) Ltd had been running H&B’s business in Singapore for 16 years and the latter did not directly own any operating entity, stores, or e-commerce sites in Singapore.
Technology-backed personalized services
DFI Retail Group said that that the partnership with Holland & Barrett underscored the company’s intent in deepening its market position in the wellness space.
It is also increasingly tapping into technology as part of its personalized retail wellness experience. Technology-enabled services are expected to expand across approximately 25% of its Mannings and Guardian stores in Asia.
“This partnership is a pivotal step in our journey to deepen our position as the Trusted Advisor for Wellness across Asia,” said Andrew Wong, CEO, Health & Beauty, DFI Retail Group. “As our customers increasingly seek holistic and personalized wellness solutions, Holland & Barrett’s heritage expertise and science-led capabilities perfectly complement our mission to deliver the right expertise and experience in our stores.”
Rhiannon Harries, deputy trade commissioner for Asia Pacific (Southeast Asia) at the UK Department for Business and Trade Singapore, added that trade between the UK and Southeast Asia was up 17% from the previous year to £62 billion (US$83.2bn).
“Holland & Barrett’s new partnership with DFI Group marks a growing ambition from UK businesses to export to and grow in Southeast Asia. Our trade relationship with the region is worth over £62 billion – an increase of over 17 per cent from the previous year – highlighting the strong momentum and opportunities available. I look forward to seeing even more UK companies thrive in Singapore and across the wider region,” she said.
