PROCOOK OPENS FIRST WEST MIDLANDS STORE AT TOUCHWOOD

The kitchenware brand has signed a new 10-year lease for unit SU08, totalling 4,510 sq ft, within the Crescent Arcade area of Touchwood. The store, which sells cookware, knives, utensils, tableware and small appliances, is ProCook’s first location in the West Midlands.

The letting further strengthens what is already the region’s leading retail and leisure line-up, with Touchwood now 99% let. ProCook complements Touchwood’s existing offer, joining brands such as Oliver Bonas, Mango, Miele, Rituals, Tag Heuer, Apple, Zara and John Lewis.

Following its acquisition of Touchwood in 2021, owner The Ardent Companies and asset manager Sovereign Centros from CBRE have implemented a strategy focused on diversifying the destination’s tenant mix and offer. In addition to a raft of new retail brands, new competitive socialising options such as Spinners and a growing dining offer – incorporating high street names such as Wagamama alongside independents including the Jamaica-inspired Jamaya – are expanding the scheme’s visitor base.

Over 40,000 sq ft of new lettings have been made over the past year, bringing Touchwood close to full occupancy, while full-year footfall in 2023 was 2.8% higher than the previous year and trading figures are on a par with pre-pandemic performance. Touchwood is one of the UK’s top-performing shopping centre assets, firmly established as the West Midlands’ destination of choice.

Andrew Hilston, Managing Director at The Ardent Companies, said: “The arrival of ProCook at Touchwood is emblematic of the strategy we have implemented at the scheme, brining new brands and operators to the destination that both complement the existing offer and provide something different to visitors. The success of the approach – drawing in more visitors to a centre that is at near full capacity – underlines Touchwood’s position as one of the leading retail assets in the UK today.”

Simon Phipps, Senior Director at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, added: “ProCook is a perfect compliment to the retailer line-up, and serves to expand the range of options that Touchwood now offers. The excellent quality of retail brands, a wide mix of dining options and a growing leisure line-up now gives its valued customers even more reasons to visit.”

Sovereign Centros from CBRE is the asset manager of Touchwood, while Cushman & Wakefield and Knight Frank are the retained leasing agents.