West Yorkshire supermarket Abu Bakr has kicked off an ambitious UK store expansion plan.
The halal retailer is set to spend £18m throughout 2026, to open to six new stores, doubling its current footprint.
The investment will also see the supermarket expand outside Yorkshire for the first time, with new stores planned in London, Lancashire and Scotland, all regions currently without an Abu Bakr store.
The exact locations are yet to be confirmed, but Abu Bakr aims to have completed the rollout by early 2027. It expects to create around 180 jobs and will also invest in additional infrastructure to support the new locations.
“We’ve recognised that there are areas of the UK without an Abu Bakr store, and our expansion is about addressing those gaps,” said Hamza Hussain, Abu Bakr managing director.
“We’ve always believed that access to high-quality affordable food is a right, not a privilege, and that’s why it’s our mission to make this a reality for customers up and down the UK.”
Abu Bakr currently has five stores in Leeds and Batley, and would begin construction and recruitment for its new stores “later in 2026”.
Having seen a “significant uplift” during key the trading period of Ramadan, the family-owned supermarket is in the midst of one of the “largest growth phases” in its history.
Twenty-two-year-old Hussain was appointed MD in January to spearhead the next stage of growth. It included the launch of a new DTC delivery service called Ayah Halal, offering premium halal meat across the UK.
Hussain added: “We want to encourage more people across the UK to consider a career in retail, starting with high-quality training and development that gives people the skills and confidence to succeed. As we open more stores, we’re creating more opportunities for people to start building rewarding careers with us.
“With market-leading pay, clear progression routes and ongoing support, we’re helping more people grow in retail while bringing Abu Bakr’s affordable products and innovative initiatives to more local communities,” Hussain added.
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