Key takeaways
- Health & beauty’s share of UK retail parks will rise to 8.9% by 2029, according to GlobalData.
- Sector spend is forecast to grow 16.9%, reaching £5.7bn.
- Boots and Superdrug lead expansion into larger-format retail park stores.
- Retail parks offer value, free parking, and services that boost dwell time.
- Market growth will outpace offline retail, driven by convenience and variety.
According to data and analytics company GlobalData, health & beauty’s share of the UK retail parks market is forecast to rise to 8.9% by 2029, as sector spend increases by 16.9% between 2024 and 2029, reaching an estimated £5.7bn by 2029.
Zoe Mills, Lead Retail Analyst at GlobalData, said that with CPI inflation reaching 3.8% in October 2025, shoppers are prioritising affordability and necessity-led purchases, and that retail parks are gaining importance as a retail channel.
Mills also said that more health & beauty retailers, such as Boots and Superdrug, are expanding their presence in retail parks, driving this robust growth. “These larger-format stores can stock a wider variety of products and offer more engaging services for customers,” she explained.
“Indeed, with time spent shopping at retail parks rising (more consumers are spending between 2-4 hours at these locations in 2025), shoppers have the time to browse more items, locate niche up-and-coming brands, and spend time having a pamper or talking to healthcare services.”
Why larger-format stores are winning consumer loyalty
In the UK, the retail parks market is forecast to be worth almost £64bn by 2029 and it is expected to be the fastest-growing retail location over the next five years (with retail spend rising 13.7% between 2024 and 2029) due to the appealing mix of value players and essential products.
GlobalData said that retailers and property management firms alike must continue to invest in retail park formats to capitalise on this momentum as shoppers seek to dwell longer and utilise these locations for services such as gyms and coffee shops alongside retail spending.
Retail parks set to grow in popularity
GlobalData’s report on Retail Location Series: UK Retail Parks, 2024 -2029, forecasts that the UK retail parks market will grow by 2.8% in 2025, outpacing the 2% growth forecast in the UK offline market.
This type of retail is also expected to outperform offline retail as more shoppers are seeking out the advantages these destinations provide, such as value retailers, free parking, food service options, and family-friendly activities such as bowling and cinemas.