Matalan is opening 10 new stores as part of huge shop shake-up – is your area getting one?

MATALAN is opening 10 new stores as part of a huge £25million shop shake-up.

The fashion and homeware retailer is set to pull up the shutters on sites in London, Essex, Hampshire and Northern Ireland this year.

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Matalan is opening 10 new stores this year[/caption]

Exact locations for these 10 stores are yet to be revealed by the chain.

Matalan is also upgrading 30 existing stores in 2025, as part of long-term plans to modernise its branches over the next three to five years.

The retailer is set to open 10 new stores annually and will also upgrade 30 existing locations per year over this period.

Stores will be renovated with improved layouts.

Some departments and services like fitting rooms and tills will be grouped together into a single accessible area.

Self-service tills are also being upgraded while checkout areas will be made larger across stores.

Matalan has already refurbished stores in Croydon, Linwood, Bristol Filton and Dumries.

The retailer said these branches have seen a “significant” increase in sales and better than expected since being upgraded.

Beyond upgrading stores and opening new ones, Matalan is also pumping cash into launching a new customer app.

James Dorling, Matalan’s property director, said: “Matalan storefronts have been a fixture of UK communities for 40 years, so it is only right that bricks-and-mortar retail remains at the centre of our transformation programme.

“With 10 exciting new store openings and extensive refurbishments across our estate, this investment marks a step-change in our strategy – creating a better, more seamless shopping experience for our loyal existing customers, while also introducing the Matalan brand to new consumers.”

In its latest results, Matalan, which currently runs around 230 stores across the UK, said its underlying profit improved despite a “challenging trading environment”.

In the 52 weeks to February 24, 2024, gross profit was £105.6million, up from £77.1million in 2023.

The retailer said these figures had improved due to lower levels of discounting and better profit margins.

OTHER RETAILERS EXPANDING

The retail sector has struggled in recent years, with shoppers’ budgets dented by high inflation, mortgage and rental costs.

The rise of online shopping has been a big blow to retailers with physical stores as well, with many forced to shut shops.

However, some retailers are bucking the trend and looking to open new branches across the UK.

First is Aldi, which is charging full steam ahead and splashing out £650million to open more stores.

The retailer is opening 10 new branches over the coming months, creating 400 new jobs.

Alongside the new sites, Aldi will also give 30 of its existing stores a fresh new look.

These will include popular locations in Manchester, Liverpool, Kent, Dorset and Scotland.

Posh retailer M&S is also opening 12 new stores across the UK, creating more than 500 stores.

Branches will open in Abingdon, Cannock, Farnham, Godalming and Northampton.

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