Holland & Barrett has announced plans to significantly expand its UK presence with up to 50 new stores in 2025.
- The expansion is part of the company’s ongoing investment in physical retail, following 35 new openings and 280 refurbishments last year.
- Plans include standalone stores, new formats, and collaborations with retail partners for in-store concessions.
- Discussions are underway with partners like Tesco and Next to expand concession locations, especially in retail parks.
- The retailer aims to enhance accessibility and customer experience through strategic site selections and partnerships.
Holland & Barrett is making a strategic push to enhance its retail footprint across the UK by planning the opening of up to 50 new stores next year. This move is a continuation of the company’s commitment to investing in physical retail spaces, which saw 35 new store openings and 280 refurbishments over the past year. Such expansions are indicative of the company’s confidence in brick-and-mortar locations amidst the growing digital trend.
This plan includes a mix of standalone stores, innovative store formats, and partnerships that allow Holland & Barrett to establish in-store concessions with notable retail partners. The ambition is to make the brand more accessible to a broader customer base, ensuring convenience and a reliable shopping experience.
Nick Gerrard, the property and format director at Holland & Barrett, indicated that discussions are ongoing with new partners to expand concession networks, particularly on retail parks. He noted the challenges faced due to size constraints and emphasised opportunities with existing partners such as Tesco and Next, stating, “We want Holland & Barrett to be accessible. We’ve only got 19 standalone sites on retail parks because generally the size of boxes available to us are too big. However, there’s partners in those retail parks, be that Tesco or Next or whoever, who actually have spare space and want to make their offer more interesting to the customers that shop with them.”
Holland & Barrett currently operates under 50 concessions in Tesco stores and plans to bolster this number by adding at least eight more before the Christmas season. Additionally, the collaboration with Next, initiated in July with three concessions, exemplifies the retailer’s efforts to integrate their offerings within other prominent retail environments, thereby enhancing visibility and customer engagement.
Holland & Barrett’s store expansion strategy underscores its commitment to enhancing customer accessibility and experience through strategic partnerships and site selections.
