Confectioners enjoy taste of success with new store

A Tyneside confectioner is enjoying the sweet taste of success as they prepare to expand into Gateshead’s £150m Trinity Square project.

Romana Moffatt and husband Terry set up their sweet company, Moffee’s, two years ago, trading from a converted camper van.

Now they have unveiled plans for a traditional style sweet shop in a prime site on Trinity Square High Street, just yards from the nine-screen cinema due to open later this year.

The new Moffee’s store will incorporate the traditional stylings of an old-fashioned sweet shop with a modern twist, including a seating area.

Romana said: “We are very excited about Trinity Square, it’s the biggest, freshest development in the region for a long time, it’s amazing.

“We’ve been lucky enough to be shown around the site, the size and speed in which the town centre transformation has taken place is epic.

“The developers should be very proud and the folks of Gateshead very excited.

“We all have memories of the exciting trip to the sweet shop as children, we look to recreate that sensation, jar after jar of all manner of sweets, but in an up to date style.”

Moffee’s currently employ three staff, but with the Trinity Square move, that number is set to increase.

In total, the Trinity Square development is expected to provide around 2,000 retail jobs.

The development, the biggest of its kind outside London, also features new shops, a cinema, a public square, health centre, bars, restaurants and offices, as well as a Tesco Extra store.

Steve Henderson from Savills, managers and letting agent for Trinity Square, said: “Trinity Square is the perfect location for a business like this looking to grow.

“With excellent transport links and really high profile, high footfall neighbours like Tesco Extra and Vue Cinemas this move will bring lots of opportunities for Moffee’s.”

New and existing businesses in central Gateshead will be able to take advantage of a number of new opportunities as a result of the opening of Trinity Square and over 40 businesses are now part of the newly formed Gateshead Traders Group.

Advertising for 20 businesses has been organised using Tesco’s direct mailing to 9,000 Club Card holders in the Gateshead area.

Gateshead Council has also arranged for existing retailers to benefit from free support and advice from a local retail specialist.

Leader of Gateshead Council, Mick Henry said: “Moffee’s is a fantastic example of a Gateshead business that is looking to grasp the opportunity that Trinity Square presents to grow.

“By the sound of what they’ve got planned I think their excitement at opening the store will be matched by many people in Gateshead. It looks like they’re all set to be a unique and eye-catching part of the Town Centre.

“The combination of individualistic specialist retailers like Moffee’s, together with some big national names, bodes well for the future of our centre.”

The first phase of Trinity Square, including the Tesco Extra store and Moffee’s, is set to open to the public on May 23.

Doug Wilson, Tesco Corporate Affairs Manager, said: “Trinity Square will offer a completely new shopping experience for Gateshead, a mix of high street and local retailers in an environment people will want to shop in and visit. Moffee’s complements this offer perfectly, bringing local retailers to sit alongside more recognisable large national stores.”

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