Planet Organic plans to dramatically accelerate its store opening programme in the coming few years, CEO George Dymond has told the London Evening Standard.
The upscale, London based retailer is targeting a portfolio of 50 stores by 2025 (it currently operates 13 outlets across the capital, with Bermondsey and Hampstead the most recent additions), with 35 planned for London and the remainder in the south east. Expansion in north of England would follow afterwards.
Dymond, who took over as CEO in December 2021 after a two year spell as MD at Holland & Barrett, tells the Standard that Planet Organic’s central London stores were hit badly during the lockdowns (the retailer was forced to close its Tottenham Court branch for a year). But he says sales at suburban stores are now close to pre-pandemic levels.
Dymond says he is confident about the long term future for the chain. Asked about the effects of the cost of living crisis, and Planet’s premium positioning, he says “as we scale we are going to be able to make much more affordable decisions.”
