British multinational telecommunications company Vodafone Group is to invest £100m to open 150 shops and create 1,400 jobs across the UK in the next 12 months.
The move is aimed at reducing its dependence on third parties such as Carphone Warehouse.
Vodafone said the expansion is part of its plans to invest £1bn in the UK in 2014 where it serves 19 million customers.
Having already opened its first store in Ilford, the retailer plans to open the remaining stores in Notting Hill, Fulham, Walthamstow, Wembley, Ilford, Perry Barr and Bicester.
The company will use the £80bn proceeds generated from the sale of its Verizon Wireless stake for the retail push.
Vodafone UK CEO Jeroen Hoencamp said its 19 million customers wanted access to Vodafone right at the heart of their high street and shopping centre, despite the rise of online shopping.
"The new stores would improve Vodafone’s ability to serve our customers better with highly skilled personal advice," Hoencamp added.
The addition to 150 stores will bring the total number of Vodafone’s UK outlets to over 500.
Hoencamp said they are focused on improving the quality and capacity of Vodafone’s network.
