Partner Article

Peel Outlets' Lowry Outlet serves up sales sucess

The Peel Outlets’ Lowry Outlet Shopping Centre today announced that its Plaza restaurants enjoyed incredible commercial growth in 2012, reporting sales are up 17.7% year-on-year. The rise in sales is a direct result of the Centre’s YOY footfall increase, which recorded over 5 million visitors through its doors in 2012 (+6% up).

Dubbed the ‘Dining Capital of the Quays’, the Plaza’s sales surge is a result of the Centre’s close proximity to MediaCityUK, which has boosted weekday sales in particular. The Centre also benefits from substantial secondary footfall from the likes of the Lowry Theatre, Imperial War Museum North and Manchester United Football Club, which have also played a significant part in the restaurants’ sales increase in 2012. The Lowry Outlet’s Plaza is home to PizzaExpress, Bella Italia, Lime, Café Rouge and the Harvester Restaurant.

Says Kate Metcalfe, Manager of PizzaExpress. “We rarely have quiet periods in the Lowry Outlet these days as with the MediacityUK development gathering pace with tenants such as the BBC, Salford University, SIS and now ITV Granada moving to the area, it has boosted sales during the week as well as us enjoying the busier weekend traffic. We’re delighted with the Centre’s performance in 2012 and things can only get more exciting now that the Centre is owned by Peel Outlets.’’

The Plaza’s exceptional sales were also boosted by the introduction of the Centre’s first Victorian Christmas Market event, which took place 6th to 9th December. The Lowry Outlet recorded its highest ever weekly footfall figures in over 11 years of trading, with over 137,482 shoppers flocking to the Centre. Over the event period, performance figures were at a high; footfall saw a 90% increase and total sales for the restaurants were up by a massive 58.7% YOY. This impactful event is part of Peel Outlets’ overall Marketing strategy to drive footfall and really appeal to the Centre’s key audience and catchments areas. This is something that will continue in 2013

Sean Thackeray, Manager of Bella Italia saya, “You wouldn’t expect food & drink markets to benefit restaurants, but we found ourselves to be incredibly busy during the Victorian Christmas Markets event. We also benefit from the number of increasing events in the area, such as nearby Lowry theatre shows, BBC events on at MediaCityUK piazza and Council-led events. It helps that we’re located near to Manchester United as well, as we get traffic from the football crowds before and after games.”

Jason Pullen, Managing Director of Peel Outlets comments, “The restaurant sector is a key area we’re looking to expand at the Lowry Outlet, and we’re delighted on its performance in 2012 as it demonstrates the increasing demand for dining is already here. There’s huge potential with the Centre being next to MediaCityUK, one of the largest commercial and residential developments in the UK, and we’re looking to capitalise on this local community and really position the Lowry Outlet’s plaza restaurants as the dining capital of the Quays.”

For more information visit www.lowryoutlet.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @lowryoutlet

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lauren, Mason Williams .