Miniso will open a Friends store at St David’s Cardiff in 2027, more than doubling its footprint in the centre and introducing its larger format, IP led concept to the UK market.

Spanning more than 6,600 sq ft, this will be designed to turn a shopping trip into a destination visit.

“Friends is our most immersive format, and St David’s is the right place to bring it to the UK first. 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," says Saad Usman, COO at Miniso UK.

Pablo Sueiras, Head of Retail & Hospitality Leasing at Landsec, says: “Miniso’s decision to more than double its footprint and select St David’s for the UK debut of 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 highly engaged community. Friends takes that a step further, creating a bigger, more immersive format where those fans can come together around the characters they love."

“Friends will bring something completely new to Cardiff. Combined with our wider investment in St David’s, it will further strengthen the mix of retail, leisure and experiences we’re creating and give Gen Z in particular another reason to visit and spend time in the city centre.”

2026 RTIH Innovation Awards

Physical retail was a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

Check out our winners here.

The awards celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world. Our winners were revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.

The event consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, awards ceremony presided over by award winning stand-up comedian, presenter, actor and broadcaster, Aurie Styla, and after party until 1am.