Iceland Group has reached a new milestone of 900 UK stores this week, following the opening of its 53rd outlet under its new banner, The Food Warehouse.
The new store, located in south Bristol, brings the retail group's total count to 847 Iceland stores, and 53 The Food Warehouse outlets.
"I am delighted that we have reached this new milestone as a distinctive British company with a unique culture, fantastic colleagues, and so many great products that you genuinely can’t find anywhere else," said Malcolm Walker, Iceland founder and executive chairman.
New Concept
The frozen food discounter has grown its total UK portfolio by 100 stores in the past four years, driven by the expansion of The Food Warehouse, which was first launched in 2014.
Larger than standard Iceland stores, The Food Warehouse offers the full Iceland range, as well as luxury and speciality frozen food products, chilled meat, fresh produce, wines, beers, and bulk grocery products.
“The Food Warehouse has grown to 53 stores from a standing start in just three years," added Walker.
"The success of our new concept refits in the Iceland estate is also extending our appeal and delivering sales uplifts that give us confidence in our ability to open more new Iceland stores within the UK."
Further Expansion
The Iceland Group is currently refurbishing its stores at a rate of one per week, as well as adding new product ranges.
The retailer says that three major extensions to existing Iceland stores are due to open before Christmas, and sites for a number of new Iceland stores are being sought throughout the UK, with four already in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, The Grocer reports that the group is planning to open up to 30 of its new larger format stores per year.
"We have proven that Iceland and The Food Warehouse can trade successfully together in a growing number of towns and cities, and we look forward with confidence to the future development of both store formats," added Walker.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
