MINISO to debut UK FRIENDS concept in Cardiff

MINISO has announced it will open its first UK MINISO FRIENDS store at St David’s in Cardiff in 2027. The new location will feature more than 6,600 square feet of space, more than doubling the retailer's current footprint at the shopping centre.

The MINISO FRIENDS format is an immersive, IP-led concept designed to combine retail with community experiences. It will include dedicated zones for intellectual property toys, collectibles, blind boxes, plush items, and licensed merchandise, alongside the brand's standard lifestyle, home, and stationery offerings.

Saad Usman, COO of MINISO UK, stated that the format is built around collectibles and experience to turn shopping trips into destination visits. The expansion follows MINISO's growth in the UK, which recently reached 50 stores.