Superdrug has reported a rise in like-for-like sales over Christmas while sister brand Savers achieved an uplift in full-year sales.

Superdrug posted a 1.5% increase in like-for-likes in the nine weeks to December 28 driven by strong trading in make-up and the sale of 1.7 million fragrance bottles.

Pop band One Direction’s scent was Superdrug’s “runaway celebrity fragrance best-seller”. The retailer also reported online sales rose 58% during the period.  

Savers reported a second consecutive year of double digit like-for-like growth as sales rose 10.9% in the year to December 28 and the retailer intends to open 58 new stores this year.

Superdrug managing director Joey Wat said: “Our Christmas trading figures show a solid performance during challenging times which is good news as we head into our fiftieth birthday year.

“Adding interest to our high street stores with beauty services, while also investing in the refurbishing of the store estate, sees us return to positive like for like annual growth in 2013, with Christmas trading offering a sparkling end to the year.”

It emerged last month that The Hong Kong owner of Superdrug and The Perfume Shop has appointed three banks to oversee a potential dual IPO of the business which could value it at £15bn.

Hong Kong-based group Hutchison Whampoa, has appointed Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and HSBC to manage a share-sale of its AS Watson business next year.