Superdrug to invest in 25 new stores

Health and beauty retailer, Superdrug, has announced plans to invest in 25 new stores this year, expanding its bricks-and-mortar retail footprint. It said the venture is expected to create over 570 jobs nationwide, creating a “seamless customer experience” and provide support for high streets and local communities. The investment is part of the brand’s ‘O+O’ (Online + Offline) platform strategy to deliver its omnichannel ambitions and is driven by what it called 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. Whilst in 2021 revenue rose 5.1% to £1.16bn 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 2023 and in Braehead, the largest Superdrug in Scotland, last month. A further three stores will soon open in Dublin Dundrum, Manchester Trafford Centre and London Brent Cross, with more stores in the pipeline for later this year. Superdrug said the “bigger and better” stores will focus on enhancing the physical shopping experience, offering customers an “extensive range” of Beauty Studio treatments and allowing access to a host of essential healthcare services through Pharmacies and Nurse Clinics. In addition, Superdrug will refit 70 stores in 2023 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. All openings and refits will benefit from Superdrug’s Sustainable Store Scheme, which kicked off with a pilot store in Peterborough in October 2021, and which ensures sites are as “eco-conscious as possible in everything from design to energy saving and waste management”. Superdrug 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.” Nigel Duxbury, superdrug property director, added: “High streets and retail parks are the beating heart of our communities and an essential part of our economy. Our investment in bricks and mortar will help us continue to stretch, shape, and deliver for our customers in the future, as well as helping transform communities into vibrant places to live, work and shop.”