Discount health and beauty retailer Savers wants to open more than 30 new UK shops this year. The budget chain already has more than 500 branches but is targeting more shops in shopping centres and retail parks, as well as more high street locations. A new LinkedIn post from property consultant GCW has published a wish list of almost 200 locations where Savers is hoping to expand. The ideal shop spaces should measure between 1,800 to 5,000vsq ft, and ideally be based close to a railway or underground station. The post reads: "New Savers Stores Needed! Following a record breaking Christmas trade, AS Watson are keen to keep the wheels turning in full force.

"Savers Health Home & Beauty are looking to open 30+ new stores across the South of England in 2025. Our ideal criteria: Ground floor units between 1,800–5,000 sq. ft, strong visibility and accessibility, locations with excellent pedestrian traffic, close to tube / train stations. Locations to include: busy high streets, retail parks, shopping centres, retail convenience parades.". A spokesperson from Savers told The Grocer: “Following a successful year of trading, Savers health home and beauty are seeking to expand their property portfolio with 30 new store openings across the UK, with a particular focus on the south east.

“As part of our commitment to customer convenience, these carefully selected locations will aim to span retail parks and shopping centres, ensuring greater accessibility and an enhanced shopping experience for the Savers customer.”. In its latest financial update, Savers revealed how its revenue increased to £754million throughout the year 2023, up from £672million in 2022, while its pre-tax profit increased from £47million to just over £61million. Savers opened nine new stores during this period, as well as a new distribution facility.

In a statement published to Companies House, Savers said: “2023 was another tough year for the retail environment with sustained higher interest rates and persistently high inflation, squeezing customers’ disposable income. The cost-of-living crisis was prevalent throughout the year meaning customers shopped around as they became more price sensitive. “Total footfall across the UK was down on 2022, as measured by the British Retail Consortium, although the health and beauty sector was one of the few market groups to see retail sales growth year on year. Government driven decisions on areas like National Minimum Wage has compounded wage inflation and continues to put pressure on operating margins for retailers. General inflation also continues to put pressure on operating costs across businesses.".