Pepco Group is opening its first store in Portugal as it expands its presence across Western Europe.

The variety discounter and Poundland parent company will open a store in Coimbra on May 18, with other openings in Albufeira and Olhão due to open shortly after.

Other stores are planned across Portugal this year, including Lisbon, Porto, Elvas, Tavira, Aveiro and Braga.

Most of its Portuguese stores will offer the full range of Pepco’s men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, general merchandise, toiletries, confectionery and more.

This forms part of the group’s latest stage of expansion following a successful trial with stores across Spain. The group operates in 20 territories across Europe, with Pepco stores in 18 countries.

Pepco Group plans to open a minimum of 550 net new stores in FY23 through the Pepco brand, as well as expand its Dealz brand in Poland.

Pepco Group chief executive Trevor Masters said: “Our launch in Portugal marks another important step in the group’s profitable store expansion programme – our biggest source of value creation – and further validates our belief the whole of Europe is addressable to us. 

“Following the successful introduction of Pepco’s three-category format in Spain, we are confident that customers in Portugal will be attracted to the unbeatable value of our combined clothing, general merchandise and FMCG offer.”