The origin of Watson's name?

About 1828 An Englishman named A·S· Watson opened a western pharmacy in Guangzhou and named it Hong Kong Pharmacy. After the Opium War, this pharmacy was registered with the Hong Kong government, moved to Hong Kong, and registered Watson&Co.A.S in Hong Kong. The company name was translated into "Watsons Pharmacy" in Cantonese, and it was named "Watsons Pharmacy".

About 1886, the company reorganized and became a public company limited by shares. The following year, the company set up a semicolon in Nanjing Road (now No.71Nanjing East Road) in Shanghai, and later set up semicolons or agency offices in Hankou, Tianjin, Fuzhou, Xiamen and other cities. In addition to western medicine, it also prepares and distributes Chinese patent medicine pills, powders, ointments and pills, as well as various drugs combining traditional Chinese and western medicine. By the beginning of this century, "Watsons" has been regarded as the largest pharmacy in the Far East, among which Shanghai branch has the largest turnover.

In addition, the company also distributes and represents chemicals in Europe and America, and has a photography department to distribute photographic equipment, photographic liquids and materials. At the end of last century, the western "Dutch water" (soda water) has opened the Shanghai market and become a fashionable drink. The company also purchased the land on Qiao Heng Road in northern Sichuan and established the "Watsons Soda Factory". It is said that this is why Shanghainese changed the name of "Dutch water" to soda water. 1932 During the Battle of Songhu, Watsons soda factory was destroyed. Later, the land was bought by real estate developers and a residential building was built, which is equivalent to Li Meimei Lane in Sichuan North Road 1746. Watsons also acts as an agent to import alcoholic beverages. Watsons was the general agent before Coca-Cola entered China.

After liberation, Watsons withdrew from China. In 1980s, Watsons returned to Shanghai to establish Yimin Watsons Food Company with Yiliang No.1 Food Factory.