Affinity outlet portfolio sees strong start to 2026
Affinity, a portfolio of four UK outlet shopping destinations, has begun 2026 with year-on-year increases in footfall and sales.
Across the four schemes, footfall in the first week of the year was up on average by 14.3%. At Affinity Lancashire alone, this increase was 23.5%.
Portfolio-wide sales during the same period were up by 16.2% year-on-year, with Affinity Lancashire again leading performance, delivering an increase of 17.9%.
This performance comes after a successful 2025 for the Affinity portfolio, during which every centre delivered a year-on-year sales uplift compared with 2024. Affinity Devon led the portfolio, achieving a 4% annual sales increase. This was underpinned by a standout year for leasing, with both Affinity Staffordshire and Lancashire reaching 100% occupancy. A range of new openings were delivered during the year, including Castore at Affinity Lancashire and Staffordshire, Skechers and Tesco Express at Affinity Sterling Mills, and Pure Gym at Affinity Devon.
James Kevill, asset manager at Global Mutual, said: “2025 proved to be a highly successful year across all four Affinity schemes. A clear focus on optimising the retailer mix, deepening community integration and enhancing the customer experience delivered tangible value, reflected in increased footfall and spend. With a strong foundation firmly in place, early 2026 trading demonstrates continued momentum across the portfolio, and, with a strong lineup of new brands in the pipeline for 2026, we look forward to building on this further.”