Discount fashion retailer Matalan today said it would open 20 stores and resite five more, in a move that will boost its sales space by 705,000 sq ft (65,495 sq m).
Matalan wants to boost its total trading space to 8m sq ft (743,200 sq m) by the end of its financial year to keep up the competition on its rivals.
Nine of the 20 stores planned for this year have already opened but the group revealed the location of 10 of the next 11 today.
These will be in Rhyl, Truro, Sheffield, Stockport, Darlington, Dumfries, Livingston, Liverpool, Manchester Openshaw and Southport.
Five Matalan stores are also being relocated to larger premises, in King’s Lynn, Halifax, Sunderland, Bangor and another to be confirmed.
Matalan, based in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, will have 166 stores open in the UK by the end of the year.
Two months ago the group reported a 30% hike in full-year profits to £107.6m on like-for-like sales growth of 8.3%.
The nine stores already open are in Leystonstone, Blackburn, Northwich, Waterlooville, St Albans, Enfield, Knaresborough, Bristol and Worksop.
The group is creating over 2,200 jobs this year through its aggressive expansion drive.
More staff are also being recruited across Matalan’s distribution centres to support the store expansion programme.
EGi News 22/07/02
