retail
German shoe brand Deichmann is looking to expand in the UK. Europe’s biggest shoe retailer, which has been in the UK for 20 years, could double its estate of 109 stores “in the medium to long term”, according to Samuel Deichmann, the founder’s great-grandson and head of the brand’s UK operation. He added: “We see a lot of potential here . . . we want to be the market leader in family footwear like we are in many central and eastern European countries”. Amid ShoeZone closures and a reduction in the Clarks estate, Deichmann believes they have “the chance to settle in locations abandoned by rivals”.
Jack Wills founder Peter Williams is relaunching his Aubin menswear brand with the help of Next. Initially launched as Aubin & Wills in 2008, with 12 UK stores, the brand was abandoned so that Williams could focus on expanding Jack Wills. The Aubin range will be available on its new website on the 7th of September, with a store opening on London’s Carnaby Street at the same time. Williams said: “Next is the ideal partner for us to collaborate with after the last 18 months of turbulence in the industry, as we are able to not only deliver products that are made to last – in both style and durability – but also ensure our customers benefit from a really world class delivery infrastructure.”
Tesco has refurbished its Express store on High Holborn as a trial of its first ‘just walk out’ store. New pay gates and a series of cameras installed in the ceiling have been installed in preparation for the concept, which uses a version of Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology provided by Trigo. The technology will allow customers to enter, select what they want, pay on their device and leave. The launch date for the technology is yet to be confirmed.
Leisure
Pret is planning to launch around 100 franchises outside London and major UK cities after its commuter-focused strategy proved costly amid the increase in home working. Over the pandemic, Pret had to close a number of stores and reduce its workforce by a third. It is now in talks with regional franchise partners including drive-throughs and high street shops. The company said that these partnerships will “bring Pret to more people in towns and travel hubs across the UK.” It also said that the franchises will help Pret establish where it could open its own stores.
American burger chain Wendy’s has announced plans to open hundreds of dark kitchens, including in the UK. The announcement forms part of their expansion plans across the US, Canada and the UK, where it relaunched this year. Wendy’s has said that it wants to focus on central London, with plans to open between five and ten dark kitchens there by the end of the year. After opening in Reading in June, Wendy’s said it was targeting up to 400 UK sites.
Plant-based brand Neat Burger is to open its fourth London restaurant in Finsbury Park. The chain’s expansion plans include six sites confirmed and expected to launch before the end of the year, taking Neat Burger’s restaurant estate to 10 sites. Co-founder Zack Bishti has said that he expects Neat Burger will have 20 sites across the UK by the end of 2022. The brand is also looking to grow its dark kitchen presence and could have as many as 60 by next year.
Property
Frasers Group will launch two stores under its luxury Frasers fascia in Ireland this year, taking up units left vacant by Debenhams. The stores, one at Mahon Point Shopping Centre in Cork and the other at Whitewater Shopping Centre in Kildare, will be Frasers’ debut in the republic. Sports Direct, also owned by Frasers Group, will operate in both stores. Frasers Group head of global leasehold property James France said: “These new sites mark as a pivotal moment for the group as we continue to demonstrate our commitment to bricks-and-mortar and prove our investment into major retail destinations and the retail market in Ireland.”
Irish athleisure brand Gym + Coffee is launching its first Northern Irish store at Belfast’s Victoria Square. The new 2,300sq ft site is the latest in the brand’s expansion plans and its eighth ‘clubhouse’ (where stores include a coffee bar) following openings in Manchester and London. Criona Collins, head of retail agency at Lambert Smith Hampton Belfast said: “The brand provides a great offer and one that is perfectly aligned with our consumers and fulfils the demand for this very specialised sector. The experience element to the store also provides a unique element and something that sets the debut location apart from other destinations in Northern Ireland.”
Openings and closures
LA-inspired Korean restaurant Korean Dinner Party has opened in London’s Soho; Multifaceted Marylebone restaurant Carousel is to relaunch as a larger restaurant in Fitzrovia; Sushi restaurant Sachi has opened at Nordic-Japanese retail and dining space Pantechnicon in London; French farm-to-table brand Cocotte is to open its fifth London restaurant this month in South Kensington; Modern British restaurant Solstice is to open on Newcastle’s Quayside; Sustainability-focused restaurant Kindle is to open in Cardiff; Gordon Ramsay is to open his first Bread Street Café in Ealing this month; Restaurant, wine bar and gallery Sessions Art Club has opened in Clerkenwell; Restaurant Ritu Seasons of India has opened in London’s St John’s Wood; Bakery, café and social enterprise Dusty Knuckle has opened a second site in London’s Haringey; Egg-focused restaurant Eggoland has opened in London.
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