B&M's First 'Store of the Future' Relaunches in Wigan Aug. 28

A company spokesperson called the relaunch "a fantastic milestone" for the store and the local community, and said Wigan would trial "new ideas and innovations" that could help shape future stores.

The format push reaches beyond Wigan. B&M plans to open a larger store at Parc Pensarn Retail Park in Carmarthen on 22 August, a week before the concept relaunch. Recent refurbishments cover sites in Corby, Towcester, Beeston and Liverpool.

Multi-site retailers use a concept store to test fixtures and staffing before committing capital across the estate. One site carries the experimental risk; the wider network spends only once the data supports it. Wigan gives B&M a controlled read on which changes work before the company commits to a new format. Keeping the branch open through the rebuild is part of that; shoppers see the new features appear one by one, and the retailer gets reaction data without losing a week of sales.

The additions lean toward speed and food. Self-checkouts trim the labour cost per transaction and change the staffing mix, freeing colleagues for the sales floor. A frozen section adds a repeat-purchase category beside the general-merchandise lines B&M already carries; it also brings higher handling costs than shelf-stable goods. B&M's mix of groceries and general merchandise puts it between the discount supermarkets and the variety chains, a position where store layout decides where people spend.

The chain is owned by B&M European Value Retail, whose shares trade in London. The open question for the sector is whether a bigger frozen offer and faster checkout lift basket values in a store that sells mostly non-food. The Wigan branch exists to answer it. B&M said the store will show which features earn a place in the future format.

Jegen described the relaunch as "the first to showcase our new store of the future concept."