Matalan to open 10 stores annually amid £25m investment

Matalan has announced that it is set to invest over £25m in its UK store estate following the £25m of additional funding secured from its anchor investors last month.

This marks the first phase of a long-term programme to modernise Matalan’s full estate over the next three to five years and the retailer is aiming to open 10 new stores annually, focusing on new locations.

The multimillion-pound investment will see Matalan upgrade 30 existing stores and open 10 new and relocated ones this year alone, expanding its footprint in regions including London, Essex, Hampshire and also Northern Ireland.

The store upgrades will involve improving layouts and elevating store design including creating greater definition between key departments and relocating all services like fitting rooms and tills to a single, more accessible area.

The upgrades will also include new customer-focused technology, including faster and easier-to-use self-service tills in larger checkout areas which will also be rolled out across the refreshed locations.

The company stated that recently refurbished stores in Croydon, Linwood, Bristol Filton, and Dumfries have already seen a significant increase in sales, ahead of expectations.

Alongside physical stores Matalan will use the new funding to invest in its digital and e-commerce offer, including the launch of a new 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.”