Health and beauty firm Superdrug claims it is on track to bring a store "to every UK high street".
The retailer has unveiled plans to open at least 35 new stores in the UK this year and has ambitions to double its number in London and expand into Ireland. The #14.6 million investment programme will create 350 jobs in places such as Bristol International Airport and Wick in the north of Scotland.
A spokeswoman said new stores would be opened in the West Midlands but the locations had not been finalised.
They will range from a smaller outlet successfully trialled in Chiswick High Street and a larger, two-floored version such as one in High Street, Kensington.
The investment will also see the completion of the makeover of the company's 720 stores, with just 100 left to rebrand.
Superdrug managing director Euan Sutherland said: "As we start the new year, we're confident in our formula of growth and that is why we will be opening a brand new or rebranded store for Superdrug customers every single week this year."
Superdrug is the UK's second largest health and beauty chain and attracted more than seven million customers to its stores in the build-up to Christmas. New sites set to open in 2006 include Alloa, Ayr and Wick, as well as Harlesden, Enfield and High Wycombe.
In May Superdrug owner AS Watson Group said there was potential for 1,000 Superdrug stores in the UK. AS Watson is the world's largest health and beauty retailer with 7,100 stores in 34 countries. Founded in 1828, it employs more than 90,000 and serves 25 million customers a week.
