Starbucks has announced plans to open 100 new UK sites, focusing on drive-throughs and “digitally-forward smaller stores”. However, the brand remains cautious amid the continuing competition from rival coffee companies and rising costs. Starbucks is set to invest £30m in opening new stores and revitalising existing locations in the next three years.
WHSmith is looking to capture the market space left behind by the collapse of Paperchase with a new store concept. The first Curi.o.city stores, offering a range of gifts and stationery from various brands, will open at Gatwick Airport at its north and south terminals this month, with another to follow in April at London’s St Pancras International. There are no high street stores planned under the new concept yet, although the retailer plans to expand its stationery offer at WHSmith stores near where a Paperchase used to operate.
Fashion retailer Quiz has announced that it will open 5 to 10 stores in 2023. Quiz has returned to a growth phase after the closure of 11 stores in 2020. The new stores follow recent openings in Bracknell and Brighton at the end of last year. The plans include new stores in Southampton and Plymouth, along with revamping and upsizing existing locations.
US fast food chain Wendy’s has announced that it aims to reach 45 UK sites by the end of this year. Since returning to the UK in 2021, it operates 30 sites, including 16 delivery kitchens. President Todd Penegor said: “We’ve got the supply chain in place. We’re working on partners. We’ve got master franchise arrangements. We're trying to get in place to really accelerate that growth in 2024 and beyond.”