Like-for-like sales at ‘specialist’ food retailers Wasabi, Nampo, Mi Casa and Patisserie Valerie at stations operated by Network Rail increased by 18% in the three months to 30 June.
They outperformed the overall retail performance at Network Rail stations in the period, which grew by 6.1%. Network Rail pointed out that the performance compares to like-for-like growth of 1.1% in the general retail sector, according to British Retail Consortium figures.
The operator of 19 major UK train stations said the recently redeveloped station King’s Cross continues to experience the strongest growth, with overall spend up 15.6% since the previous quarter.
Liverpool Lime Street station is next (+14%), followed by Cannon Street (+10%).
Stations in Scotland also recorded steady growth with Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central stations rising by 5.8% and 4.7% respectively.
Hamish Kiernan, commercial director of retail for Network Rail, said: “We’re working with our retailers to improve the quality and range of shopping experiences and offerings at our stations. You have to work hard to keep pace with the constant evolution of this sector, and as these results show, we are getting the mix right.
“Stations are now destinations not just to travel but where people want to meet, eat and shop. Importantly as a tax-payer funded organisation, all our profits from our commercial activities are reinvested to deliver a better railway for Britain.”
