Sephora continues expansion with Manchester Arndale signing
Sephora is set to open its eighth UK outlet after signing for a new store at Manchester Arndale shopping centre.
The beauty retailer has signed a 10-year lease for a 7,300 sq ft space, which will offer over 300 skincare, cosmetic, and beauty brands.
Since its founding in 1969, Sephora has grown to over 2,700 stores across 34 countries and has been expanding its UK presence.
Sarah Boyd, managing director of Sephora UK, said: “Manchester showed us phenomenal support when we opened our first store in the region, which blew away all our expectations. We are thrilled to be bringing a second beauty playground to our customers in this vibrant and culturally rich city, allowing us to reach even more shoppers with a city centre location at Manchester Arndale.”
Sephora becomes the latest retailer to move to Manchester Arndale after the centre welcomed 23 new tenants in 2024. This included established brands such as Rituals, Space NK, B&M, Go Outdoors, and Castore, as well as online retailers including Represent, BPerfect, PureSeoul, and Trailberg, with the latter two selecting the centre as its first physical retail space.
Steve Gray, head of European retail asset management at Global Mutual, said: “Sephora is an excellent addition to the Manchester Arndale line up as it cements our position as the go-to destination for beauty and fashion brands. The arrival of Sephora continues the strong momentum of international brands selecting Manchester Arndale as they expand their UK retail footprint. This highlights the confidence these retailers have in Manchester Arndale’s continued strong performance and how we continue to attract shoppers from across the North West and beyond.”
Scott Linard, portfolio director for M&G Real Estate, added: “Through the addition of another globally recognised international retailer, Manchester Arndale is enhancing its reputation as the leading retail hub in the North West. We expect Sephora’s product range to really align well with our young shopper demographic who are eager to sample new and exciting brands. Following a bumper 2024, Sephora’s signing helps us start 2025 with a bang, and we hope to welcome even more exciting names during the next 12 months.”
M&G Real Estate and Global Mutual act as joint asset managers of Manchester Arndale while Metis Real Estate and Time Retail Partners are the centre’s retained letting agents, with Green & Partners retained as lease advisory agents.