Superdrug announces raft of store openings this year

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Apr 18, 2023

Big expansion plans for Superdrug this year. The UK health & beauty retailer is investing in 25 new stores, expanding its bricks-and-mortar retail footprint while creating over 570 jobs nationwide. The plan also includes 70 store refits throughout the year.

The company said the focus on physical retail “creates a seamless customer experience and provides vital support for high streets and local communities’. 

The investment, part of the brand’s O+O (Online + Offline) platform strategy to deliver its omnichannel ambitions, is driven by continued strong performance figures. 

In Q4 2022 Superdrug reported increased volume and value sales and footfall across both sides of the beauty and health business. While in 2021 revenue rose 5.1% to £1.168 billion with a profit before tax increase of 141.3%. 

The investment strategy has already seen Superdrug open new stores in Washington Gallery and Falkirk Retail Parks in February and in Braehead, its largest store in Scotland, just last month. 

A further three “best-in-class” stores will soon open in Manchester Trafford Centre, London Brent Cross and Dublin Dundrum, with more stores in the pipeline for later this year. 

“The bigger and better Superdrug stores will focus on enhancing the physical shopping experience, offering customers an extensive range of affordable Beauty Studio treatments and allowing access to a host of essential healthcare services through Pharmacies and Nurse Clinics”, the retailer said. 

In addition, the planned refits “ensure the estate is modernised through a series of updates that include new shop fronts, fully recyclable signage, improved flooring and ceiling tiles made from bio-soluble mineral wool, clay and starch, energy efficient LED lighting, new floor layouts and upgraded fascia and internal signage. 

This follows a large-scale 2021 rollout of new cosmetics stands, “which ensured customers can enjoy and discover the latest make-up brands in the most up to date of shopping environments”. 

All openings and refits will benefit from Superdrug’s ‘Sustainable Store Scheme’ that piloted in Peterborough in October 2021, “which ensures sites are as eco conscious as possible in everything from design to energy saving and waste management”. 

CEO Peter Macnab said: “Recent years have seen seismic changes in our sector, and constantly evolving customer expectations. An investment of this scale demonstrates our resilience in the face of continuing social and economic challenges, but also our confidence and commitment to our customers and communities.”