HMV to open three new stores as part of UK and European expansion

HMV has announced plans to open three new stores in Peterborough, Cork and The Hague as part of its ongoing expansion across the UK and Europe.

The new locations represent a further step in its investment in high-street retail following a period of growth and refurbishment across its existing estate. 

HMV currently operates more than 100 stores, many of which have been refitted under the ‘hmv Shop’ concept.

A new store will open later this year in Peterborough’s Queensgate Shopping Centre, marking the company’s first presence in the city.

In Ireland, HMV is set to open its third outlet at Merchants Quay Shopping Centre in Cork, following previous launches in Dublin and Limerick.

The company also plans to open its first store in the Netherlands, in The Hague, extending its high-street footprint to a third EU market. HMV currently operates two stores in Belgium and two in Ireland.

The stores will stock HMV’s full range of music, film and pop culture products, including vinyl, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray and 4K titles, and merchandise, books, turntables and headphones.

He added that the company’s expansion focus would continue to be on Ireland and mainland Europe, supported by its existing online delivery network across several EU markets.

All three stores are expected to open before the end of the year, ahead of the Christmas trading period.

Phil Halliday, managing director at HMV and Fopp, said: “After five years of working on a deal, we are pleased to be opening in Peterborough to meet long-standing public demand. We are also preparing to open our first store in the Netherlands and a third in Ireland before the end of the year.”