News
GRID Braehead adds local brand to F&B offer
15th October 2026GRID Braehead in Glasgow has expanded its food and beverage offer with the addition of local brand Salt & Stacked. The opening marks the second launch from the team behind Vinci’s, the sweet retailer which already operates at the destination. Offering a mix of loaded fries and loaded mac, the arrival of Salt & Stacked supports the destination’s focus on developing a varied food and beverage offer that complements its retail, leisure, and entertainment mix. The brand joins an existing F&B lineup at GRID Braehead that includes TGI Fridays, Pizza Express, and Nando’s. Nicola Hiscoe, director of Salt & Stacked, said: “GRID has proved to be a strong location for Salt & Stacked. As a well-established leisure destination, it gives us the platform to introduce the concept to a broad customer base, alongside a complementary mix of food, retail and entertainment. The response since launch has been extremely encouraging, giving us real confidence in Salt & Stacked’s potential to grow at GRID.” Bruce Harley, centre manager at GRID Braehead, added: “Salt & Stacked is a strong addition to GRID and reflects the continued development of our food and beverage offer. The success of Vinci’s and the launch of this second concept […]
Deals
White Stuff joins fashion lineup at Frasers Plus Braehead
14th October 2026White Stuff is set to open a new store at Frasers Plus Braehead this autumn. The fashion retailer will occupy a 2,741 sq ft unit, which will showcase a range of womenswear, menswear, and accessories, alongside the retailer’s knitwear, premium denim, and dedicated rainwear lines. The British retailer will add to an existing lineup at Frasers Plus Braehead that includes the likes of M&S, NEXT, and Flannels. Rachel Scott, head of leasing at Global Mutual, said: “Brands are increasingly selective about where they invest in physical stores, so White Stuff’s decision to open at Frasers Plus Braehead is a positive endorsement of the opportunity this destination presents. “For us, the focus is on securing operators that can perform over the long term and respond to what our customers are looking for. White Stuff’s commitment is another example of that approach translating into leasing activity.” Clare Davis, cluster manager at White Stuff, added: “Scotland has always been an important market for us, and we are excited to be embarking on this next chapter of brand growth in the region. Frasers Plus Braehead was a natural next step for us. It gives us the opportunity to bring the brand to a destination that already […]
Requirements
Costa Coffee brews up further expansion
8th September 2026Costa Coffee has unveiled its latest property requirements as it looks to continue its expansion across England, Scotland, and Wales. The coffee shop chain, working with its long-standing partner Savills, is looking to open new locations in retail parks and shopping centres, as well as on high streets and within travel locations. Costa Coffee is also looking to open drive-through units in out-of-town retail locations. Ideal units will range in size between 1,250 sq ft and 2,200 sq ft and be located adjacent to foodstores, retail warehousing, and leisure space. Within retail parks, Costa is seeking units ranging between 1,500 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft in size with external seating. Freestanding or in-line units will be considered, with nearby car parking a necessity. Ideal units will be situated in out-of-town locations with significant traffic flow, adjacent to foodstores, and retail and leisure clusters. In high street and shopping centre destinations, Costa is looking for units between 1,500 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft with outside seating. Locations such as universities, hospitals, and leisure destinations will also be considered. The operator is also looking to open new sites within travel locations such as transport hubs and train stations with significant […]
Insights
Alliance Retail Exchange: Retail space is the name of the game in the out-of-town market
2nd October 2026A lack of quality out-of-town space continues to be the challenge faced by retailers in 2026, according to the delegates Completely Retail News spoke to at September’s Alliance Retail Exchange (ARX) event. Demand for retail warehousing space remains high, but many retailers and operators are continuing to find a lack of churn to be the biggest obstacle to their expansion plans. As a result, rents are expected to grow, while landlords and prospective tenants are having to be more creative to create new opportunities in the out-of-town market. This may lead to the development of new stock, the splitting of existing units, or the creation of new formats. The event, which was sponsored by PureGym, was held at The Brewery in London and attracted over 500 delegates, including agents, landlords, and retailers. The morning of the event saw a welcome speech and breakfast before the floor was opened to dealmaking. This was followed by a presentation by Savills’ Sam Arrowsmith and George Trimmer, which looked at the lack of out-of-town space available to retailers. The presentation highlighted how, outside of drive through formats and bespoke discount grocery stores, no new stock is coming to the market. That said, the general […]
Advice
Turn lease events from growing pains into commercial gains
10th March 2026By Simon Matley, director for dilapidations and occupier services at TFT After a period of acquisition, a large commercial retail portfolio can become either a major liability or a powerful cost saver for retailers who need every advantage they can get in a challenging consumer market. For national multiples and high street brands, often with sizeable portfolios numbering in the hundreds of units, or for smaller regional operations that are growing at speed, flexibility and control are hugely important. Brands today are adapting their portfolios in light of changing consumer behaviour and omni-channel retailing, and this is shaped by the increasingly sophisticated data capture that allows them to better understand stock, fulfilment, customer behaviour, and operations. For many who have been acquiring premises over the past 10 years, they will almost certainly find that data allows them to be more efficient in the space they need, not least because of the growth of last mile logistics and on demand deliveries which enables occupiers to be nimble in how they use their spaces. Whether they operate on the high street, in retail parks or rely on distribution centres, retailers want to scale fast, explore new territory and snap up the right […]
News
POP MART to open first Newcastle store at Eldon Square
14th October 2026POP MART is set to open its first store in Newcastle at Eldon Square. Opening this week, the 1,000 sq ft store will offer the retailer’s selection of collectibles, from brands such as SKULLPANDA, HIRONO, DIMOO and The Monsters, alongside a range of collectible figures, plush toys, and lifestyle products. The move towards an elevated immersive experience, aligns with Eldon Square’s wider aim to evolve its offer beyond traditional shopping, creating new reasons for visitors to spend time at the destination. Bernice Nesham, director of asset management at Pradera, said: “POP MART’s decision to open its first Newcastle store at Eldon Square is a significant addition to the centre’s evolving retail offer. The brand has built an exceptionally engaged global following, and its arrival further strengthens our ability to connect with younger consumers and digitally engaged audiences. We look forward to welcoming the brand’s immersive store experience to our evolving lineup of brands.” Ian Ashton, POP MART’s head of retail, UK & Ireland, added: “Opening in Newcastle marks another exciting milestone in POP MART’s continued growth across the UK. The North East has an incredible energy and a passionate community who already know and love our characters and Ips, making […]
