news

31^st October 2006

JUNCTION ONE CLINCHES ANOTHER FIRST AS TOP GIFT STORE OPENS IRISH OUTLET

High profile UK based speciality tea, coffee and gift retailer Whittard of Chelsea has entered the Irish market opening its first store at international outlet shopping complex Junction One.

The famous purveyors of fine teas and coffees since 1886, operates more than 130 specialist stores in England, Scotland and Wales including 24 outlets in key tourist locations such as Buckingham Palace Road and Heathrow Airport in central and greater London.

The Junction One shop is the company’s 20th outlet store and hot on its heels Whittard also plans to open a further discounted store at Co Laois based Rathdowney Outlet Centre.

Whittard area manager Liam Bergin said:  “Through our sister company Julian Graves, which has been trading at Junction One since it opened, we already have first hand experience of how successful the Centre is.  That knowledge, coupled with the fact that Junction One is Ireland’s premier and largest international factory outlet, persuaded us that it is the perfect location to introduce the Whittard brand to the Irish consumer market.”

“Whittard has a strong presence in the UK mainland outlet sector and we’re confident that our range of teas, coffees, ceramics, gifts sets, coffee equipment and selected food products will be just as popular with local consumers in Ireland.

“Our launch range at Junction One has already generated excellent sales to date and we look forward to developing and enhancing our product portfolio and generally raising our retail profile on the island of Ireland.”

First established in London during the 1880’s as an upmarket tea and coffee merchant, Whittard of Chelsea expanded both its stores and product base in the 1980’s and 90’s and today markets a full range of traditional black and green teas, herbal and fruit infusions, hot chocolates plus wholebean and ground  pure Arabica coffee beans  together with coffee equipment, colourful dining ceramics, confectionery, preserves, gifts and seasonal products.   

Welcoming the arrival of the new Whittard store, Junction One Director John Drummond said: “We are delighted that Whittard of Chelsea opted to open their first Irish store at Junction One bringing their range of classic quality  brands to the Northern Ireland consumer for the first time ever.  Junction One has scored yet another first for Northern Ireland as Whittard is one of several new names coming to Junction One this Autumn with fashion footwear store Ravel, DVD outlet Directors’ Cut and mobile phone operator Citiphone  set to open later in November.“  

Ends

Media contact: Jane Wells or Rosemary Allister at JPR, Tel 028 9076 0066 or mobile 07880 504928 or email [email protected]

Editor’s Notes:

Since opening in 2004 Junction One has welcomed over 7 million people with CACI reports describing a mature centre which is now an established part of consumer’s shopping patterns attracting 81% repeat visitors.  With 245,000 sq ft of retail space already let and an additional 58,000 sq ft scheduled to open next year, Junction One will be the second largest factory outlet centre in the UK, behind Cheshire Oaks and more than 50% larger than either of the planned Irish outlets at Banbridge and Ballymac.