UK. Superdrug, the UK’s second largest health and beauty retailer, and a subsidiary of the AS Watson Group, is set to make its debut this year at Bristol International Airport.
The move is part of a wider expansion that will see the retailer open at least 35 new stores in the UK this year, and expand into Ireland. The company said it was “on track to bring a Superdrug to every High Street and beyond in the UK”.
The programme will create 350 jobs, in new locations from Bristol International Airport to Wick in the far North of Scotland. The store formats will range from new, smaller 2,500sq ft versions which have been successfully trialled on Chiswick High Street, to two-floor stores such as the new High Street Kensington outlet. There is potential for at least ten stores of 6,000 sq ft.
The company is investing £14.6 million in this latest round of expansion, which will include the completion of its re-brand programme, with less than 100 stores left to refresh from a total of 720.
Superdrug recently stepped up its beauty offensive by increasing its number of fragrance counters, and installing fragrance departments and in-store specialists as part of the launch of its new beauty academy training scheme.
Superdrug Managing Director Euan Sutherland commented: “As we start the New Year, we’re confident in our formula for growth and that’s why we’ll be opening a brand new or re-branded store for Superdrug customers every single week this year.”
Last May the AS Watson group confirmed the potential for 1,000 Superdrug stores in the UK. The AS Watson group operates over 7,100 retail stores running from health and beauty, luxury perfumeries and cosmetics to food, electronics, fine wine and airport retail arms. The group opens a new store every hour.
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