The number of shops operated by multiple retailers in the UK rose by 919 to 101,570 in the third quarter.
Store numbers increased by 0.6% in Q3, reversing the marginal decline seen in Q2. The net increase in multiple branches so far this year now totals 665 (0.42%), according to research by CBRE and Retail Locations.
Catering, leisure and retail operators respectively have added 605, 307 and 207 shops so far in 2012. The decline in service shops such as travel agents and banks continues with a further net loss of 454 branches so far this year.
CBRE expects the net growth in multiple branches to continue in the final quarter. The total number of multiple branches will decline marginally in 2013 but, in large part due to large store expansion, net floor space growth will continue regardless of retailer administrations.
Melitta Berrino, senior partner of Retail Locations, said: “The real attrition is still coming on the services side, not in retailing, catering or leisure. The decline in the number of services shop branches – operators like banks, building societies and travel agents – is set to continue simply because services that can be transferred electronically are continuing to transfer to the internet.
“The same is not true of tangible goods. Despite the continuing trickle of administrations, multiple branch expansion in tangible goods is continuing.”
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
