Calling North America its “most exciting growth opportunity where we see excellent prospects for further growth in our airport business,” WH Smith plc predicts that it will operate approximately 500 stores in this region by 2028, with the airport business comprising about 85% of the total North American division. As of Aug. 31, 2024, the retailer operated a total of 341 travel-related stores in North America, and 1,253 locations globally.
In a statement discussing results from its fiscal year that ended Aug. 31, 2024, WH Smith said that it would be opening approximately 60 stores in North America over the next two years, with about 26 opening in the current fiscal year. The retailer has won contracts for stores at Detroit, Chicago O’Hare and Washington Ronald Reagan airports during the past fiscal year, as well as a further 24 stores in the Dallas, Denver and Washington Dulles airports. Globally, WH Smith has a pipeline of approximately 90 store openings in its travel division.
WH Smith reported revenues for the fiscal year of £1.9 billion ($2.4 billion USD), up 7% from the £1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) generated the previous year.
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