Muffin Break, the Australian bakery cafe chain owned by Foodco, is planning its second retail park location at Stratford upon Avon that is due to open at the end of March as it plans 10 sites for 2015 in shopping centres and hospitals as well as retail parks, M&C Report has learnt.
Across its 53-strong estate Muffin Break has traditionally housed its café bakeries inside shopping centres but is now considering the alternative locations after launching its first unit inside a retail park in Durham.
The company also has a Muffin Break based within Whittington hospital in London, and is planning to open within University Hospital Lewisham at the beginning of May.
Gemma Sandells, Muffin Break marketing manager told M&C Report: “With a growing trend for out of town retail parks and destination shopping, we have been considering opening a Muffin Break in a retail park for a while now. We feel that when visiting a retail park, customers are often looking for somewhere to sit and relax for a while before hitting the shops again. Similarly, retail parks can often be based a little further from home, with customers having to travel to them by car or public transport, and so may be looking for a snack or coffee to have before the journey, or to take away with them for the ride home.”
The unit in the Arnison Shopping Park outside of Durham is the largest to date at 1,500sq ft with space for up to 80 covers.
Sandells said the layout of the new store ensures the on-site kitchen in more visible and all the fresh food is displayed in cabinets for prominence.
Muffin Break stores are franchise owned and the company is keen to grow its presence nationally based on locations of interested franchisees.
“Unlike the high street or a shopping centre, retail parks often offer a lesser choice of places to stop for lunch or a snack. Fast food options seem to be quite popular in retail parks, however, not everyone wants to grab a quick burger and fries – and would prefer to sit down with a coffee and something that has been freshly prepared for them that morning such as a wrap, sandwich or delicious slice of quiche,” Sandells said.
