WH Smith today (April 20)said it will roll out a “one-stop-shop format” to eight branches in “major” rail locations following the success of the format introduced in its London Euston branch last year, as well as in London Gatwick and London Heathrow airports.
Well Pharmacy announced in December 2021 that it had partnered with the retailer to offer pharmacy products alongside news, books and convenience products at the London train station.
Read more: Well Pharmacy opens ‘one-stop shop’ with WH Smith at Euston station
WH Smith today said that the branch is “performing very strongly” and that it will “now [use] this format in eight major Network Rail locations”.
However, a spokesperson for WH Smith told C+D that the new stores will not be run in partnership with Well Pharmacy and that they will not offer pharmacy services such as a dispensary, but will stock health and beauty retail ranges.
“Pharmacy products”
The retailer said that extending the ranges it stocks into categories such as “pharmacy products”, health and beauty, tech and food to go will enable it to “provide time-pressed customers with all their travel essentials needs under one roof with a fast and convenient shopping experience”.
The move will also deliver "good returns with improved margins and attractive economics” for its landlords, it added.
The spokesperson told C+D that the branches will be at London main line stations such as Victoria, Waterloo and Liverpool Street, but the full list of locations remains unclear.
Read more: Well launches pharmacy in WH Smith at Heathrow Airport
It is also unclear when the eight expanded stores will open.
Meanwhile, WH Smith also today announced a “refit” of its “largest store at Birmingham airport into this new format, combining an extensive range of pharmacy and health and beauty products with the traditional WH Smith offer under one roof” this summer.