Starbucks and Boots chiefs to headline retail event
THE retail property industry is returning to the region for its annual conference and exhibition after a four year break.
The British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) has lined up a number of key speakers for the event at Manchester Central in September, including the UK managing director of Starbucks and Simon Roberts, president of high street mammoth Boots and executive vice president of parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance.
David Atkins, president, BCSC, said: “Our industry is growing rapidly and BCSC is changing to adapt. I am delighted that the conference is returning to Manchester this year, underlining the region’s significant contribution to the retail sector.
“We are building on last year’s successful event where over 700 retailers, 300 industry chief executives and hundreds of senior managers joined together for 48 hours of deal-making. And now, with Starbucks and Boots headlining the programme, BCSC is firmly placing retailers at the heart of the retail real estate event of the year.
“In 2014, over £910m was spent in Manchester’s thriving retail sector and with over 500 bars, restaurants and cafes, we expect BCSC 2015 to be a fantastic place to showcase Great British Retail. For networking, deal-making, insight and brand profiling, there is no better event for all firms involved in retail property.”
Other speakers include: Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council, Martin Farrington, director of city development from Leeds City Council and Mike Owen, executive director of resources and regulation from Bury Council.
