• McArthurGlen’s global retail space to grow to nearly 900,000 sq m by 2019
• Ambitious expansion plan underpinned by 30% growth in total centre turnover from 2012–2014
• 8 new centres and 8 expansions will grow total catchment by one third
• 50 new brands opened in 2015 including Coach, Cesare Paciotti, J. Crew, Kiton and Thomas Sabo

LONDON, 18 November 2015-- Europe’s leading owner, developer and manager of designer outlets, McArthurGlen, today reveals that it will expand its gross leasable area (GLA) by a record 50%, growing from 600,000 sq m today to almost 900,000 sq m by 2019. This news makes McArthurGlen, now in its 20^th year, the fastest-growing group in the European outlet sector.  

Including the Ochtrup designer outlet joint venture announced yesterday, McArthurGlen’s portfolio of centres will rise to 22, assuring the group’s position as Europe’s clear leader in outlet retailing. The company currently has a further seven new centres underway or in planning and due for completion by 2019.

Underpinning McArthurGlen’s ambitious expansion plan is its strong financial performance.  The group today announced that across its portfolio total centre turnover grew by almost 30% in the last 3 years to around 3.5 billion euros. Since the beginning of this year, McArthurGlen has driven double-digit growth in both footfall and customer spend across its centres and has grown tourism sales by over 40%.

Gary Bond, Managing Director of Development, McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, comments: “This is a hugely exciting time for the designer outlet sector and we are looking to break new records and strengthen our position as the leader of the industry in Europe. 

“We are well positioned to capitalise on the quickly evolving designer outlet market and are focused on enhancing and expanding our existing estate as well as looking for new acquisitions and new joint ventures in locations which will allow us to capitalise on new opportunities. Our current development pipeline will increase GLA by almost 300,000 sq m and our catchment by a third within the next four years.”

Eight new expansions and eight new centres

Eight of McArthurGlen’s existing centres are expanding, delivering anadditional 85,000 sq m of GLA worldwide. These include Ashford (UK), La Reggia (Naples) Noventa di Piave (Venice) and Serravalle (Milan), Parndorf (Austria), Roermond (The Netherlands), Vancouver (Canada) and recently extended Neumunster (Hamburg) .

In addition to the company’s new acquisition in Ochtrup, near Münster, a further seven new centres are currently underway or in planning: Ghent, Málaga, Normandie, Provence, Remscheid and two centres in Istanbul, which will add over 215,000 sq m of GLA to Western Europe.

This brings the total GLA to be created by new developments and extensions to almost 300,000 sq m.

Catchment to grow by a third

By 2019 McArthurGlen’s total catchment will grow by a third. Strategically located to deliver maximum value and footfall to brand partners, McArthurGlen outlets have a combined catchment of over 144 million potential customers living within a 90-minute drive time. In the UK, the catchment of its six centres is equivalent to almost 60% of the UK population. A third of the German population live within a 90 minute drive of a McArthurGlen centre, with the new development in Remscheid, near Cologne and the addition of the Ochtrup centre and its catchment of 13 million inhabitants, this is set to grow to just over 40%.

50 new brands

McArthurGlen has a network of over 900 brand partners representing the world’s most famous names in luxury, designer and premium fashion, including Armani, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Missoni, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino and Versace. The company secures over 600 leasing deals a year to maintain the group’s portfolio and this year alone have welcomed 50 new brands to help to invigorate the brand mix including Coach, Cesare Paciotti, Frey Wille, J. Crew, Kiton, Ports 1961 and Thomas Sabo.

Adrian Nelson, Group Leasing and CRM Director, McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, comments:

“McArthurGlen provides the finest designer outlet experience in Europe and we continuously look to enhance the quality of the customer experience and drive the performance of our brand partners by creating an exciting and engaging shopping experience that appeals to both local communities and the wider tourist shopper. With over 900 brand partners across nine countries, we have an excellent track record of driving strong and consistent growth for our brand partners, delivering a tailored brand mix for each market.”

He continues: “The quality and design of our centres, including store interiors, visual merchandising and customer service creates an atmosphere conducive to buying luxury and premium brands. Our shoppers are attracted by the significant price discount at our centres but they return regularly because of the quality of the entire shopping experience.”

Tourism sales quadruple

McArthurGlen’s Designer Outlets have seen tourism sales quadruple over the last four years between 2010 and 2014. Across the portfolio, the average spend per international customer is more than six times the average spend of local customers, with China as the biggest international customer, accounting for more than a third of all tax-free sales. In 2015 tax free sales figures have grown around 25% year-on-year to date.

Expansion of existing centres:                                                                   

Total area for extensions: 84,560

New centres in development or acquired:

Total area for new developments: 214,600

Total GLA to be created by new developments and extensions: 299,160 sq m