Harris Lamb charged with finding 150 new sites for 99p Stores

PROPERTY firm Harris Lamb has been retained by 99p Stores to identify and acquire new sites across the Midlands and in the north of England for the discount retailer.

The business, which opened its 250th store in Northampton last month, has appointed West Midlands-based Harris Lamb to help it achieve its aim of launching a further 150 stores over the next three years.

David Walton, head of retail at Harris Lamb, said: “99p Stores is a fast-growing empire, with footfall of more than two million customers every week.

“The business is now keen to increase its footprint across the UK, and has retained us, along with Norbury Sansom in the South of England, Fletcher Morgan in Wales and Wright Buchanan in Scotland, to help identify sites to help it do so.

“We’re now using our knowledge of the UK market to identify High Street, shopping centre and retail park locations in major towns and cities that will make suitable additions to the chain.

Suitable sites will boast ground floor sales areas of 5,000-10,000sq ft, storage areas of between 2,500 and 4,000sq ft and have open A1 consent.

Walton added: “We are aiming to have a number of new stores open before Christmas, and we’re already in conversations with a number of contacts to help us fulfil that.”

Tony Brown, chief operating officer of 99p Stores, said, “We have appointed Harris Lamb as they have the capability to drive our expansion plans and seek out the best property opportunities.”