Miniso is set to bring its Miniso Friends retail concept to the UK, opening its first store at St David’s Cardiff in the second half of 2027.
The new store will cover more than 6,600 sq ft, more than doubling the retailer’s existing space at the shopping centre.
Miniso Friends combines retail with themed experiences and IP toy zones, alongside collectables such as blind boxes, plush and licensed merchandise.
It will introduce Miniso’s larger-format immersive concept, with dedicated areas featuring collaborations with internationally recognised characters and brands.
Miniso's new Cardiff store will feature collaborations with globally recognised characters and brands.Miniso
The store will also sell Miniso’s wider range of lifestyle products, homeware, stationery, gifts and accessories.
The format aims to encourage longer visits by turning a shopping trip into a destination visit for fans and collectors.
“Miniso Friends is our most immersive format, and St David’s is the right place to bring it to the UK first," said Saad Usman, COO, Miniso UK.
He continued: "Cardiff has been a strong store for us since 2020, and this move more than doubles our space in a centre that continues to attract the best names in retail and leisure.
"The format is built around IP, collectables and experience – the things that turn a visit into a destination – and it sets the standard for how we want customers to experience Miniso across the UK."
The opening builds on Miniso’s presence at St David’s, where it opened its second UK store in November 2020. The Cardiff location was also the retailer’s first store outside London.
Pablo Sueiras, head of retail and hospitality leasing at Landsec, the property company that owns and manages St David’s Cardiff, said: "Miniso’s decision to more than double its footprint and select St David’s for the UK debut of Miniso Friends reflects the strength of the destination and the opportunity we see in Cardiff.
"We’re seeing significant growth in collectables, with collaborations around globally recognised IP helping Miniso build a highly engaged community. Miniso Friends takes that a step further, creating a bigger, more immersive format where those fans can come together around the characters they love."
Meanwhile, Miniso recently announced plans to open its first UK Miniso Land store on London's Oxford Street. The 19,000 sq ft location will feature themed environments, interactive experiences, character collaborations and photo opportunities
