Screwfix set to open 50 new stores this year

The new stores will create 600 jobs in areas such as retail management, service assistants and supervisors.

Screwfix plans to open 40 stores in the UK and 10 in Ireland creating 500 and 100 jobs respectively.

The trade retailer has increased its overall target for the number of Screwfix stores, up from 800 to 900 as they look to open new stores in locations in inner cities and rural catchment areas to reach more customers.

Screwfix has been rapidly growing over the past five years, opening a new store each week on average.

The retailer currently has a store estate of 723 stores – 711 in the UK and 12 in Ireland.

Earlier this year, it announced that it had achieved yearly sales of £2bn for the first time, doubling its annual figure over the last five years.

Screwfix chief executive John Mewett said: “I am incredibly proud of all Screwfix colleagues for their support in continuing to keep our customers supplied safely. We’re delighted to be opening 50 new stores this year, creating 600 jobs.

“The growing demand for convenience means we now see scope for over 900 stores in the UK & Ireland, which will help our busy customers get their jobs done.

“We know that time is money for our customers and these new stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland enable us to provide our customers with added convenience and certainty, and provide even more job opportunities for local communities when they need it most.”