Shopping centre welcomes new names to bolster fashion, wellbeing and food offer
Shopping site The Trafford Centre has welcomed a range of new retailers.
The new openings include the North West-based fashion retailer Forever Unique, luxury cosmetics brand Rituals, Manchester-born burger and shakes chain Archie’s and the launch of US-based Slim Chickens.
The bricks and mortar launch of women’s occasion wear retailer Forever Unique has seen the Manchester e-commerce brand sign for a unit near Selfridges on the upper mall.
The rapidly growing retailer was founded by husband and wife team Seema and Sandeep Malhotra 10 years ago.
The company has since grown rapidly as an online-first brand, successfully breaking into international fashion markets and securing stockist partnerships in more than two dozen countries.
The Trafford Centre is expecting a boom in wellbeing purchases this year as consumers look towards post-pandemic treats, with Kantar suggesting good value holistic care as a key retail theme for 2021.
Luxury cosmetics and home brand Rituals has also joined the Trafford Centre and will cater to this wellbeing trend as consumers seek mood boosting personal care products. The brand has taken up a 1,500 sq ft unit located close to the main dome near Selfridges.
As for new eateries, local Manchester brand Archie’s has taken a 6,500 sq ft unit in the upper level of The Orient, and Slim Chickens, which focuses on Southern US hospitality to deliver a fast casual dining experience, has agreed a lease on a 3,500 sq ft space in The Great Hall for its first restaurant in the north of the UK.
Having opened late last year, Archie’s and Slim Chickens have joined other eateries in The Orient, Europe’s largest food court, and will be providing deliveries and click and collect services during lockdown and until normal service is resumed.
Nick Williams, senior director-CBRE, The Trafford Centre asset manager, said: “As one of the UK’s most popular retail and leisure destinations, The Trafford Centre continues to enhance the vibrant mix of brands available to its visitors to reflect consumer trends and create opportunities for emerging brands to reach a wider audience.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome these new brands and look forward to our visitors enjoying their unique offerings.”
Nick added: “Across the retail and F&B (food and beverage) categories, we’ve seen some exciting additions to the centre’s brand line up this year from both regional and internationally recognised brands. These signings demonstrate confidence in the long term outlook for The Trafford Centre as we look forward to 2021 and beyond.”
Founders of Forever Unique, Seema, star of the Real Housewives of Cheshire, and her husband Sandeep Malhotra, said: “Over the last 12 years our main priority has been to successfully expand into new markets and raise the profile of the brand.
“Our goal is to explore new and innovative ways to engage a wider market, allowing consumers more diverse ways to shop and interact with Forever Unique and we’ve seen increased demand for accessible ways to shop, so we’re excited to be offering a store at The Trafford Centre where customers can physically see and shop the product in a more intimate retail experience.”
Cushman and Wakefield advised The Trafford Centre on retail leasing and Metis Real Estate Advisors on food, beverage and leisure leasing.
