Washington Retail Park confirms two popular food brands to open at site following £5m investment

Two major brands are set to open at the Peel-owned Washington Retail Park in conjunction with the planned Lidl supermarket, as the wider £5m revamp of the Sunderland Highway site gets underway.

Frozen food specialist, Iceland is set to open its Food Warehouse model with work on site having commenced in August 2018.

The store which will span approximately 12,500 sq ft of space, is part of a newer Iceland concept which offers the likes of frozen, chilled and fresh groceries and products.

Roger Wheeldon, director of development at Peel Land and Property, who own and manage Washington Retail Park, said: “The addition of Food Warehouse and Greggs form the second phase of our wider investment in Washington Retail Park, alongside the new Lidl and existing occupiers, this gives us a really strong line up.

“Strategically located between Sunderland and Gateshead, Washington Retail Park has convenient highway connections and ample parking which is attractive to retailers, allowing us to evolve the site and create an excellent offering for local people to utilise.”

The UK’s largest bakery chain, Greggs is also set to open a new store, after agreeing a deal with Peel on a 1,400 sq ft unit. Both new stores follow the announcement of the new Lidl supermarket, due to open in Summer 2019.

Richard Walker, Food Warehouse’s managing director, added: “We’re confident the new Washington Retail Park store will be hugely popular and we’re looking forward to unveiling the store to shoppers. The new store will create up to 30 jobs for the local area.”

Peel Retail Parks has appointed Havercroft as the main contractor for the redevelopment and refurbishment of the units. Food Warehouse and Greggs will join existing retailers at Washington Retail Park including B&M Bargains, JD Gyms and McDonalds.

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