Holland & Barrett to open 50 new sites next year - including eight by Christmas

Holland & Barrett told the Grocer Magazine that, as part of its next rollout stage, it was set to expand its network of in-store concessions alongside its high street brick and mortar stores

A popular high street health and beauty retailer is reportedly planning to open another 50 sites next year - with eight new ones opening before Christmas.

Holland & Barrett told the Grocer Magazine that, as part of its next rollout stage, it was set to expand its network of in-store concessions alongside its high-street brick and mortar stores. The focus would be on sites located on retail parks, particularly supermarket stores. The retailer has not confirmed where its new stores could be, including the eight concession stands. The Mirror has asked Holland & Barrett for this information and will update this article when we know more.

Holland & Barrett have around 50 concession stores within Tesco, and the health and beauty retailer has said it plans to open another eight before Christmas. The retailer also has three concessions stores in three Next stores and in garden centres across the UK. The retailer started to open concession stands in Tesco stores back in 2016.

Nick Gerrard, Holland & Barrett property and format director, told The Grocer: "There are some undeniable facts, 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 are 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. We are talking to potential partners and we’ll see where it goes."

According to the property director, a "traditional" Holland & Barrett store is typically around 1,600 sq ft in size while retail parks usually have sites that are 6,000 sq ft. Holland & Barrett's biggest UK store is it's Manchester Arndale site at 4,000 sq fyt.

The retailer is also focusing its efforts on travel locations after opening a store at London Bridge Station and a kiosk at Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin last year. It’s set to open new stores in London's Paddington and Liverpool Street stations in the coming months, and sees long-term opportunity for “30-40” travel stores “over time”. It also has an ongoing travel fixture trial with WH Smith.

Over the last 12 months, it has added 35 sites to its UK collection and has refurbished a further 280 stores as part of an ongoing store investment programme. The renovation programme began three years ago, with its high street store in Chelmsford and according to Nick Gerrard, around 500 Holland & Barrett stores are in the "format we would want them to be in”.

Holland & Barrett has nearly 800 stores in the UK and Ireland alongside 182 stores in the Netherlands, 20 stores in Belgium, and four in Sweden. The renovations of its UK store estate are set to be completed next year.