Innovative food experience to launch at Elephant Park

Food market operator Mercato Metropolitano is to take 17,500 sq ft of retail, dining and social space at Elephant & Castle’s newly developed Elephant Park.

With a lease agreed, the £2.3bn regeneration project – a collaboration between Lendlease and Southwark Council – will become home to Mercato Metropolitano’s MM Factory, which has been described as “a new concept of grocery, retail and dining experience”.

MM Factory’s centrepiece will be its urban production centre, a food experience where visitors will be able to observe and participate in the traditional arts of food production.

The space will also feature a mix of micro-restaurants and different food concepts from around the world, all with a focus on sustainability.

Guy Thomas, head of etail at Lendlease, commented: “The new MM Factory from Mercato Metropolitano will bring a vibrant and varied offer to Elephant Park serving Elephant & Castle’s diverse community.

“Lendlease is committed to creating the best places with longevity, sustainability and a strong sense of community, and like-minded Mercato Metropolitano is the perfect anchor tenant to help us deliver on this promise.”

Mercato Metropolitano founder Andrea Rasca added: “When looking at potential destinations it quickly became apparent that Lendlease is a landlord that shares our ideals and vision for the future.

“The Mercato Metropolitano ecosystem is all about community, a place for an ongoing dialogue between local people, farmers, chefs, retailer and artists, and we cannot think of a better place to build upon this community with a new approach to urban retail than Elephant Park.”

Founded in Milan in 2015, Mercato Metropolitano first came to the UK in 2016, generating more than 200 permanent jobs in the Elephant & Castle area. The company’s new site is expected to open in Summer 2019.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →