Like-for-like sales leap 13% for restaurants at Salford's Lowry Outlet Mall

Plaza restaurants at Salford's Lowry Outlet Mall have seen like-for-like sales leap by 13% in 12 months, helped by the influx of new footfall coming from MediaCityUK, the new home of BBC North.

The mall has reported a strong sales performance in every one of the plaza's restaurants, which include Pizza Express, Bella Italia, Lime, Café Rouge, Pond Quay and a new Harvester restaurant.

Footfall at the shopping centre has risen by 9.3% year on year, while footfall at the plaza entrance alone has soared by 29.3%, as a result of more workers coming from both the Trafford Wharf direction across the bridge and MediacityUK, which houses companies such as the BBC, SIS and Salford University.

A targeted marketing strategy, a surge in new openings and a superior restaurant offering has also been credited for the mall's strong footfall figures and outperforming retail and leisure categories.

Martin Grady, manager at Harvester Restaurants, said: "Since opening at the mall on December 6, we have hit the ground running, and have achieved our set weekly sales targets. We're excited to be part of this development in such a thriving, local community and are looking forward to things to come at the Lowry Outlet Mall."

"The Lowry Outlet Mall's plaza restaurants have performed way above expectations for 2011," added centre manager Robert Hallworth.

"The strong anchor restaurant brands on the plaza continue to appeal to our loyal customer base as well as attracting those who are new to the region. Our restaurant profile is ideally suited to the growing numbers of workers and residents at MediaCityUK."

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By Janie Stamford

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