Superdrug has announced its intention to launch 30 new stores this year, leading to the creation of approximately 600 jobs. The upcoming locations in England will include White Rose Leeds, Crawley, Waterlooville Retail Park, Newport Retail Park, and Isle of Wight.
Additionally, Superdrug will be expanding into Scotland with new stores in Dundee Gallagher Retail Park, Kilmarnock Retail Park, East Kilbride, Strathkelvin Retail Park, and Linwood Phoenix Retail Park, as well as Cwmbran Retail Park in Wales. These new outlets will feature Superdrug Beauty Studios offering various treatments like ear piercing, manicures, and eyebrow threading.
Furthermore, Superdrug aims to revamp 60 existing stores throughout the year. The health and beauty retailer, currently operating over 780 shops across the UK and Ireland, has decided to enhance its presence due to robust customer demand.
Clare Jennings, Superdrug’s property director, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing experience-driven retail by establishing destination stores that cater to beauty, healthcare, and affordable treatments in a single location. The investment in expanding store numbers aims to meet customer needs for trusted products and services in welcoming community spaces while generating numerous job opportunities.
In other retail developments, M&S has disclosed plans to increase its food business by seeking 500 new store locations, particularly in areas like Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford where M&S stores are not yet present. M&S is focused on securing larger sites to accommodate the full range of M&S Food, with store sizes set to average 18,000sq ft. The supermarket is set to open or renew 20 stores by the end of the financial year, leading to the creation of 800 new jobs as part of its strategy to attract more customers for their weekly shopping needs.