Major high street chain announces £25,000,000 revamp with at least 30 new stores

Could your local area be getting a new Matalan store? (Picture: Getty Images)

While many UK brands – from Poundland to Hobbycraft – are disappearing from the high street, there’s one retailer bucking the trend with a major investment.

This week, Matalan announced plans to spend £25 million on a multi-year transformation project — which could mean a store coming to your local area soon.

As part of this overhaul strategy, the fashion and homeware chain aims to expand its 230-strong national footprint, opening 10 new sites in the next 12 months along with a further 20 to 40 by 2030.

At present, no information has been shared on their locations, but ‘key regions’ being looked at are London, Essex, Hampshire and Northern Ireland.

A number of existing shops will also be revamped, with upgrades including modernised layouts, more accessible fitting rooms, and improved self-service checkouts in larger stores.

According to Matalan, the investment is already paying off, as recently refurbished stores in Croydon, Linwood, Bristol Filton, and Dumfries have led to ‘a significant increase in sales, ahead of expectations’.

Some retailers are still backing bricks and mortar (Picture: Matalan)

‘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,’ commented property director James Dorling.

However, since we live in an increasingly online world, e-commerce is part of the offering too. And although the company is remaining tight-lipped on details, it has confirmed shoppers can expect a new app and a refreshed loyalty programme, whereby members receive exclusive deals and rewards.

Dorling added: ‘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.’

It comes a year after the brand committed £35 million to cutting the prices of more than 700 products.

Giving the likes of Primark a run for their money, products across Matalan’srange was discounted by an average of 15% — with £1 off men’s jeans, £2.50 off women’s hoodies, and £3 off bedding sets.

Then chief executive Jo Whitfield said in a statement: ‘We’ve unlocked efficiencies at a time when inflation and input costs are starting to fall, enabling us to pass these savings on directly to our customers.’

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