The John Lewis partnership is planning to step up its acquisition programme to almost double its department store portfolio. It currently trades from 26 UK stores, with 11 in the development pipeline. Now managing director Charlie Mayfield has set his sights on another 10 store openings.
Speaking at the BCSC conference in Manchester, Mayfield said: "Three years ago our target was to open at least another 10 shops. To date we have three relocations in progress and have just announced our eighth new shop at Stratford City - this takes us to a total of 11 new shops in progress.
"Even when we open these, half of the top 50 retail centres in the UK will still be without a John Lewis. We would like to reach more of these customers and are setting our sights on a further 10 shops."
Birmingham city centre is thought to be among the locations in John Lewis's sights, with persistent rumours that the group is set to anchor the Birmingham Alliance's Martineau Galleries. And JLP has not given up on plans to open in Northern Ireland despite its planning setbacks on the Sprucefield site.
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