Uniqlo's retail expansion heats up with second Manchester store opening planned

Uniqlo is expanding its presence in the North West and opening a new store at the Trafford Centre later this year, making Manchester the first city outside of London to have two Uniqlo locations.

The new store spans 24,000 sq ft and will feature the brand’s LifeWear offering across womenswear, menswear and kidswear, as well as seasonal collections.

In autumn/winter 2026, a new store is also planned to open in Cambridge, believed to be in the former Ted Baker unit, as well as another in Leeds.

Uniqlo currently operates 24 stores across the UK and has been rapidly expanding its retail footprint nationally, with the brand strategically focusing on investing in key UK city locations. According to the brand, these openings mark an important step in its long-term expansion strategy.

In October, the brand marked the opening of its first West Midlands store in Birmingham’s Bullring, followed in March by the re-opening of its refurbished Covent Garden store.

Earlier this month, the brand also opened a new store at Cabot Circus in Bristol, marking the retailer’s debut store in the South West.

Its Oxford Street flagship was recently ranked as the fifth bestselling store for the brand worldwide in the six months leading up to February 2026, according to the latest report published by its parent company, Fast Retailing.

Alessandro Dudech, Chief Operating Officer, Uniqlo UK, said: "We’re delighted to be expanding our presence in Manchester with a new store at the Trafford Centre, one of the UK’s leading retail destinations. Following the strong response to our first location in the city, this opening represents an important step in bringing Uniqlo’s LifeWear to even more customers across the North West."

Kate Pearson, Director of Portfolio Leasing at Pradera, Trafford Centre’s asset managers, said: "Uniqlo is a globally recognised brand known for its quality and innovation, and its arrival at Trafford Centre reflects the continued strength of our fashion and lifestyle offer. The addition of a second Manchester location highlights both the brand’s confidence in the region and our position as a leading destination for major international names."

Over 50% of total sales growth in 2025 was generated by fashion, sportswear, and footwear, with those categories up 14% year-on-year, demonstrating the centre’s strong appeal to fashion-forward consumers.