From a single Western pharmacy in Hong Kong to the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, AS Watson is celebrating 185 years of growth defined not just by scale, but by purpose.
The milestone coincides with a major humanitarian achievement: the company has surpassed its goal of providing 10,000 free surgeries for children with cleft lip and cleft palate conditions through its long-running partnership with Operation Smile—well ahead of schedule.
Buoyed by this success, AS Watson is now raising the bar, committing to support 15,000 life-changing surgeries by 2030 as it deepens its mission to help create healthier, happier futures for the next generation.
A global journey rooted in care
Reflecting on the company’s 185-year journey, Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, underscored that the company’s legacy has always gone beyond retail.
“As we mark 185 years, I am deeply proud of how AS Watson has grown from a single pharmacy in Hong Kong to a global leader in health and beauty retail,” Ngai said. “Our journey is defined not just by growth, but by the countless smiles we’ve helped create—for our customers, our people, and the communities we serve.”
She credited the company’s 130,000 colleagues worldwide, as well as customers and partners, for sustaining a culture anchored in trust, compassion, and shared responsibility. “Together, we will continue to create smiles—one at a time, for everyone,” she added.
A philosophy that spans generations
Care has been embedded in AS Watson’s DNA since its earliest days, when it provided free medicines to those in need, guided by the belief that health and happiness should never be a privilege.
That philosophy continues to shape the company’s approach today, informing not only how it serves customers, but how it engages with communities across the globe.
This enduring spirit led to the launch of the global “Give a Smile” campaign in 2018, a flagship initiative designed to support comprehensive cleft care for children.
Built around the belief “Give 1 Smile, Create 5,” the campaign emphasizes the ripple effect of a single surgery—uplifting not only patients, but also their families, healthcare professionals, and the wider community.
Closing the gap in access to care
The impact of the partnership has been profound. Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft condition, often in regions where access to surgical care is limited or unavailable.
“Thanks to AS Watson, we are able to provide access to essential surgical and comprehensive cleft care for thousands of patients,” said Kathy Magee, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Operation Smile. “With its support, we are closing the gap between where our patients live and the care they need.”
Magee congratulated AS Watson on both its 185th anniversary and the milestone of 10,000 completed smile surgeries, calling the achievement “a transformative impact on the lives of so many families around the world.”
Looking ahead to more smiles
Ngai emphasized that the milestone would not have been possible without the generosity of customers, whose donations have helped fund thousands of surgeries. She reaffirmed AS Watson’s commitment to continue raising funds, donating resources, and actively engaging shoppers in the mission.
“Together, we will ensure that even more children are given the chance to smile with confidence,” she said.
More about AS Watson’s 185-year journey of growth and purpose can be found at its anniversary site.