Superdrug to open dozens of new stores in UK expansion
High street health and beauty chain Superdrug has strengthened its commitment to the UK retail sector by announcing plans to open 30 new stores this year.
The retailer has confirmed that this expansion of its store footprint will create around 600 jobs across the UK.
Founded in 1964, the Croydon-based business now operates more than 780 stores across the UK and Ireland. The chain’s bosses said plans for further openings follow “strong customer demand” at its stores.
Superdrug added that it would continue to invest specifically in “large format destination stores and retail parking”.
New sites include Dundee Gallagher Retail Park, Kilmarnock Retail Park, East Kilbride, Strathkelvin Retail Park and Linwood Phoenix Retail Park in Scotland; White Rose Leeds, Crawley, Waterlooville Retail Park, Newport Retail Park, Isle of Wight in England; and Cwmbran Retail Park in Wales.
The group added that shoppers will be able to purchase new beauty products and treatments, including ear piercings, manicures and eyebrow threading, from Superdrug Beauty Studios.
The retail chain also said it plans to complete 60 store renovations within the year as it commits to “significant investment” across the site.
Clare Jennings, property director at Superdrug, said: “Superdrug continues to see strong demand for physical, experience-led retail and our 2026 store opening schedule is a clear vote of confidence in physical retail in the UK.
“By opening 30 stores, we are not only increasing our footprint, but also creating destinations that bring beauty, health and affordable treatments together under one roof.
“Our customers want more than convenience; they want expertise, products and services they can trust, delivered in welcoming spaces in local communities.
“This investment allows us to bring bigger, better Superdrug stores to more locations across the UK, unlocking greater access to healthcare, beauty products and treatments, and creating hundreds of new jobs and long-term career opportunities for our colleagues.”
The news comes as high street pharmacy giants Boots and Superdrug are accused of misleading customers with “dodgy deals” following an investigation into loyalty pricing in their stores.
Consumer champion Which? It compared prices at the two businesses over a six-month period in 2025 and found hundreds of cases showing loyalty deals saving members more than they actually did.
Which? It says it has referred both Boots and Superdrug to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), claiming the companies defied the watchdog’s guidance on loyalty pricing promotions.
One of the examples given by Which? It’s a Simple skincare pack priced at £4.98 for loyalty members and £9.98 for other customers. But just before that the bundle was priced at £4.80 for everyone (and marked “discounted” from £9.98) and after that it was £4.49 for everyone (also “discounted” from £9.98).
Which prices did Superdrug argue stand out? It was only a small portion of the thousands of loyalty price promotions.
