Shopping centre owner intu will help launch Cath Kidston’s 14th shopping centre store and a new-concept Carluccio’s in Derby next month.
The 1,950 sq ft Cath Kidston store will support the quintessentially British brand’s expansion into the shopping centre market and, along with Carluccio’s, strengthen intu’s retail and leisure mix at the heart of Derby city centre.
Cath Kidston has more than 70 shops in the UK but just 13 shopping centre stores. A further two are scheduled to launch over September and October as the retailer seeks to capitalise on an increase in footfall and dwell time caused by an expanding leisure offer within shopping centres. It launched another store at intu Watford in August.
Carluccio’s concept which was piloted at London’s Spitalfields earlier this year brings the brand’s deli and retail area to the fore and offers an open plan kitchen with a communal table where diners can watch their dishes being prepared from scratch. The 3,787 sq ft store is the second new-concept restaurant to premier at intu Derby this year following the launch of Prezzo’s new branding concept ‘MEXIco’ in July.
Nick Round, regional director at intu, said: “intu’s national presence means we’re well placed to help brands expand into the shopping centre market and roll-out exciting new concepts nationwide. We’re looking forward to supporting Cath Kidston and Carluccio’s to target customers in this region for the first time.
“intu Derby’s strong retail and leisure offer encourages shoppers to come from further, stay for longer and spend more and Cath Kidston and Carluccio’s will both play an important role in attracting more visitors for both leisure and shopping.”
Sue Carvell, Retail Director at Cath Kidston, said: “Shopping centres are a key part of our current strategy. With the rise of quality shopping centres in the UK and shopping becoming increasingly leisurely, this is where the customer footfall can be found and therefore dictates some of our future trading opportunities.”
Neil Wickers, CEO Carluccio’s said: “We are looking forward to opening our first site in Derby. The new restaurant will celebrate and amplify all the small things that have made Carluccio’s one of the country’s most loved restaurant groups. The premise is to emphasise and enhance the things that make Carluccio’s stand out from the crowd – its supplies, fresh dishes made on-site and unique combination of restaurant, shop and deli.”
