Symbol group SimplyFresh has opened its first new-look food hall-style store in Manchester.
The 6,000 sq ft store, based in Stretford Mall, opened on Monday.
The £300,000 flagship site houses a SimplyFresh convenience store, a florist, a craft beer bar and coffee counter.
Three street food concessions are in operation: Blue Caribou Canteen, Slurp Crackle and Pop, serving Asian fusion dishes and a Basilico pizzeria.
The new concept store has a strong focus on plastic reduction, with a wall of 40 refill dispensers.
The store has been opened by Mital Morar, owner of Ancoats General Store in the city.
Morar told the Manchester Evening News he was reigniting the high street with this new concept. “It’s about giving people a change from the norm. It’s a huge extension on what convenience retail can look like in the future,” he said.
It is the first of three SimplyFresh food halls due to open by the end of the year.
Subject to planning permission, a 13,000 sq ft food hall is due to open in November in Grand Central Station, Birmingham.
The third location will be in Islington, London.
SimplyFresh COO Kash Khera said the symbol group was actively seeking landlords interested in opening a food hall after revealing plans to have 25 large spaces he has referred to as ‘retailainment’ by the end of 2020.
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