A host of retailers from Greggs to Mango are set to expand their store estates this year in a boost for the struggling UK high street.
TK Maxx, New Look, B&Q and Wetherspoons are just some of the other businesses that have announced branch closures amid the cost of living crisis.
It comes after a number of closures in recent months - including the collapse of card and stationery retailer Paperchase at the end of January.
While the 106 standalone Paperchase stores will close, the actual brand itself is to live on after Tesco bought the intellectual property and will start to sell Paperchase products in its supermarkets.
Continue reading to find our round up of the retailers that have announced plans to open new sites in 2023.
ASDA
Asda is set to launch dozens more 'Express' and 'On the Move' stores this year as part of a 'test & learn' approach to developing its convenience model.
Following the launch of the first two Asda Express stores at the end of last year, the supermarket plans to launch a further 30 sites - creating around 500 new roles - this year.
The aim was to launch 300 Asda Express stores by 2026, a press release from the brand said.
Asda has also announced plans to open another 100 On the Move stores across the UK this year.
The Asda On the Move concept, with stores place in convenient roadside and neighbourhood locations, was launched in October 2020.
TK Maxx
TK Maxx - the discount retailer where Prince Harry claimed he enjoys stocking his wardrobe, is reportedly looking for new locations as it looks to expand.
More than 28 sites could add to its portfolio of 250 stores across the UK, according to The Evening Standard.
New locations could include Archway, Upminster, Barnet and Elephant and Castle.
TK Maxx is already opening a new store in Workington's former Debenhams as well as a new store in Llanelli.
No opening date has been confirmed for any further TK Maxx stores.
Greggs
Greggs fans will rejoice at the news the beloved British bakery chain has plans to open 150 new branches this year.
It comes after a record expansion in 2022, over which 186 new stores were opened across the UK.
Along with the new openings, Greggs said it plans to relocate 40 shops to new, larger sites, as well as trial a 24-hour drive thru service.
Another eight to 10 drive-thru locations will open this year, adding to the 17 drive-thrus currently spotted across the UK.
As well as opening more shops, Greggs extended opening hours at around 500 sites to 8pm or beyond, increasing its sales of hot evening meals.
A further 300 shops will see their opening hours extended to 9pm this year.
Trade has also been boosted by delivery sales, Greggs said, with 1,270 stores now allowing customers to order food from home.
Stores opened already in 2023:
- Ulverston drive thru
- Bristol Gallagher retail park
- Sittingbourne, Kent drive thru
Stores still to open in 2023:
- Canary Wharf Station
- Primark Tasty Café in Newcastle
- Shepherd’s Bush Station
- Gatwick Airport South Terminal
- Glasgow airport
- Edinburgh Castle Street
- Spennymoor
- Cardiff Park House
Mango
Clothing retailer Mango, which currently has 35 UK stores, is looking to expand its presence with a number of physical stores.
Back in November, Mango opened its first store in Newcastle. Shopping centres appear to be a key target area - with the brand having opened new stores in the Glasgow Fort, Dartford Bluewater and London’s Battersea Power Station last year.
Mango global expansion director Daniel López said: “The opening of our first store in Newcastle is a step further in our strategic goals for international expansion and strengthens our presence in the United Kingdom, a strategic market for Mango and one of the most important for the fashion world.”
B&M
It's one step back and two steps forward for discount retailer B&M, which has closed several stores in recent weeks in order to open new sites within the same areas.
The brand also has the long-term target of growing its high street presence from the current 700 stores, to 950 stores in the UK, it confirmed to The Sun.
The Kilmarnock store in Queen's Drive Retail Park will shut up shop on March 26, a number of weeks after the new B&M mega store at the town's Glencairn Retail Park opened last month.
B&M also closed its Stockton store in the Castlegate Shopping Centre last weekend, with plans to it being moved over to a new site in the area - in Portrack Lane.
Primark
Primark is also embarking upon an expansion spree over 2023, with plans to open 27 new stores during the financial year.
Several of these stores will be in the US but new openings are also in store for the UK, with announcements including shops in Bury St Edmunds, Salisbury, Teesside Park and Craigavon.
Some existing stores will also be refurbished, the brand has said.
Paul Marchant, Primark chief executive, said the investment showed it was “playing a part in ensuring that UK retail continues to grow and thrive and give people another reason to visit their local high street”.
Wagamama
Popular Japanese and pan-asian restaurant chain Wagamama will be adding to its portfolio of 165 restaurants across the country in 2023.
Its owner The Restaurant Group has announced that it plans to open at least five new sites each year, for the next three years.
Several of these openings will involve a redistribution of TRG's store estates.
It was announced last week that the company will be closng dozens of Frankie and Benny's and Chiquito restaurants over the next two years - and turning several of these into Wagamama outlets.
Ikea
Good news for flatpack and meatball lovers over the UK - Swedish furniture giant Ikea has plans to open several new stores in 2023.
The brand will open a flagship store on London's Oxford Street later the year and is said to be looking for more physical space in the capital, Retail Gazette reports.
Ikea has also said it will be expanding in the North West, with plans to open new Plan & Order points in Aintree, Preston and Stockport.
The stores are typically located in retail parks and shopping centres and showcase around five kitchen and wardrobe solutions.
They also have a consultation area with information, samples, tools and specialist knowledge.
Poundland
Discount store Poundland is due to open up 11 new stores over the coming months, with the brand having revealed exact locations for new shops along with some official opening dates.
The chain has said it would open 50 new stores by the end of September 2023, across the high street, shopping centres and retail parks.
- East Dulwich, London - March 18
- Dumbarton Road, Partick - March 25
- Parkgate, Rotherham - March 31
- Weston-super-Mare (expected to open in April)
- Burton-upon-Trent (expected to open in April)
- Castle Bromwich (expected to open in April)
- Widnes Retail Park (expected to open in April)
- Belfast Castlecourt (expected to open in April)
- Biggleswade (expected to open in April)
- Stafford (expected to open in April)
- Ipswich Copdock Retail Park (expected to open in April)
Dune
Shoe shop Dune has also announced expansion plans, with the retailer looking to open more stores particularly where it used to have department store concessions.
It comes after the brand was hit hard with the demise of House of Fraser's store estate shrinking and Debenham's closing.
The footwear retailer has recently returned to profit, following an "encouraging" post-Covid recovery.
Starbucks
Starbucks is expected to open 100 new branches in the UK this year - though the coffee giant is yet to confirm the list of locations and opening dates.
The openings will be a mixture of company-operated and franchised stores, with the brand having announced its intentions to spend more than £30 million to open the new cafes.
The expansion will add to the 1,066 Starbucks stores open across the UK.
Along with the new openings, 30 company-operated stores are also set to be renovated over the course of the year.
Aldi
Supermarket chain Aldi will open nine new stores across the country by the end of the year - a move that will see more than 6,000 new jobs created.
New stores will open in places including Norwich, Newcastle, Slough and Southampton.
Currently, the brand has more than 990 UK-wide and employs around 4,000 people.
