Iceland is thought to want to open up to 250 more Food Warehouse stores as part of a massive expansion.
The food retailer is on the hunt for up to new store sites and is working with its long-term property advisor Mason Partners LLP, which is leading the search for new locations.
Once the retailer find these locations, it will double the current footprint of Food Warehouse stores, which currently number just over 200.
Iceland is targeting sites with a minimum footprint of 10,000 square feet, located on retail parks in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The specific new locations have not been announced, but The Grocer said the retailer could be looking around Crawley, Brighton, Salisbury and Dundee, along with “suburban areas” of London, Manchester, Glasgow and Newcastle.
Iceland did confirm it has stores scheduled to open in Shrewsbury, Bicester, Selby, Yeovil, Llantrisant and Wakefield in 2025.
Food Warehouse stores were launched in 2014 as an “experiment” and are usually located in retail parks
PA
A spokeswoman for Iceland Foods said: “Iceland has plans to expand the footprint of The Food Warehouse across the UK over the next few years.
“Stores are scheduled to open in Shrewsbury, Bicester, Selby, Yeovil, Llantrisant and Wakefield across 2025.”
Food Warehouse stores were launched in 2014 as an “experiment” and are usually located in retail parks.
They are around three times the size of traditional Iceland shops.
The news follows the announcement that Iceland released a ‘manifesto’ to give customers a voice ahead of the General Election.
The document includes findings from a survey of more than 6,500 customers and colleagues as the retailer looks to bring “high street realism” to Westminster.
When customers were asked what the biggest issue facing Britain was, the cost of living was found to be the top concern.
They were also asked about their experiences of accessing public services, including the NHS and state education.
The survey found that many respondents feel left behind by politics and politicians. Furthermore, more than two thirds said they did not feel represented by any major political party.
Iceland shared the documents with all political parties ahead of July 4.
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the retailer could be looking around Crawley, Brighton, Salisbury and Dundee
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Richard Walker, Iceland Foods executive chairman said: “The gap between high office and British high streets has never been bigger, and our colleagues and customers have made it clear that they believe their voices aren’t being heard.
“This is what we’re looking to change by using Iceland’s platform as a business to campaign for them and hold politicians to account.
“The general election campaign is the perfect starting place – even if it came a little sooner than expected – but this manifesto is only the start for us. These issues aren’t going away anytime soon, and we are going to build on this and if we succeed, we hope it will help form the basis on which to rebuild British high streets by placing people at the heart of the strategy instead of politics.”
