Holland & Barrett set to open 50 new stores as expansion 'ramps up'

Holland & Barrett is planning to open up to 50 new stores in the UK next year as it ramps up its expansion plans. It forms part of the health and wellness retailer’s investment into physical stores, which saw the business open 35 new sites and refurbish 280.

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. 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.

Holland & Barrett property and format director Nick Gerrard said the business was in talks with new partners about expanding its concessions network, particularly on sites located on retail parks such as supermarkets. "There are some undeniable facts, we want Holland & Barrett to be accessible," he said.

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“We’ve only got 19 standalone sites on retail parks, because generally the size of boxes available to us are too big," he added. “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 has under 50 concessions in Tesco stores and plans to open at least another eight by Christmas. “We regularly review our property plan to make sure we’re in the places that are most convenient to our customers,” H&B property & format director Nick Gerrard told The Grocer.

“We’re continuing to invest heavily in high streets across the UK and ROI, through our extensive programme of refits and new store openings this financial year. As part of this we’re continuing to work with the Tesco team to look at further opportunities to expand our partnership.”