Superdrug has announced an investment into its bricks-and-mortar retail footprint, with plans to open 25 new stores in 2024, as it celebrates its 60th year on the British high street.
The retailer is enhancing the physical shopping experience for customers with larger and improved store formats in prime retail destinations. The expanding store estate is expected to create over 500 jobs nationwide, providing support and services for high streets and local communities.
The bricks-and-mortar strategy has already seen Superdrug double the footprint of its Craigavon store in Northern Ireland this year to 5,800 sq. ft, as well as extending its Lakeside Thurrock store to 7,669 sq. ft with the addition of a new fragrance counter and Nurse services. Additionally, Superdrug will be unveiling some of its biggest ever stores throughout the year, with a further three best-in-class stores soon opening at St David’s in Cardiff, Bluewater Shopping Centre, and Westfield Stratford City.
The Cardiff store, which was one of the first Beauty Studio concept stores, will be upsizing to a new 11,300 sq. ft space with a brand-new treatment studio, offering additional make-up services alongside beauty and piercings. The new store in Westfield Stratford City is also doubling in size to 9,892 sq. ft and will be one of Superdrug’s biggest stores when it opens in the summer.
In addition to the new stores, Superdrug will be extending 7 existing stores and refitting 60 over the course of 2024, ensuring the estate is modernised through a series of updates. This includes 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 ensures sites are as eco-conscious as possible in everything from design to energy saving and waste management.
The investment, which is part of the brand’s continued focus on an O+O (Online + Offline) platform strategy to deliver its omnichannel ambitions, is driven by continued strong performance figures. The retailer delivered a strong Christmas trading period in 2023, with total sales up 9.2% in the four weeks to 30th December and LFL sales up 7.1%. While in 2022, revenue rose 17% to £1,367 million with profit before tax increasing by 71.7%.
Superdrug’s Property Director, Nigel Duxbury, commented: “We’ve changed a lot in the 60 years since the first Superdrug store opened in Putney high street, but we remain as committed as ever to providing a seamless shopping experience for our customers, offering the very best in accessible health and beauty. This investment into bricks-and-mortar means we can grow our footprint in key locations and highlights our ongoing commitment to high streets and retail shopping destinations, which are an integral part of local communities and economy.
“2024 will see some of the largest ever Superdrug stores open their doors, which is something we are really excited about, as these larger retail units give us the space to be able to offer new and exciting services and even more of the latest health and beauty products.”
The bigger and better store plan will mean Superdrug customers can continue to delight in discovering the latest trending, high-performance products, at affordable prices, including a range of member-only deals. The company’s Health & Beautycard customer loyalty programme remains pivotal to its engagement with customers, with total membership reaching 18.1 million thanks to the launch of VIP Rewards, which sees Health & Beautycard members being rewarded for spend on top of Superdrug’s already great everyday offers.
In Healthcare, Superdrug continues to ensure communities have access to vital medicines, prescriptions, and professional advice, as close to 200 stores now contain a Pharmacy and over 60 a Nurse Clinic, with an amazing Trustpilot score of 4.6 out of 5. In addition, Online Doctor gives patients access to over 70 healthcare services and a large range of healthcare essentials, at a time when the NHS is under increasing pressure.
