Europe’s first Menchie’s opens at intu Lakeside
intu signed up American frozen yoghurt chain Menchie’s first European store at intu Lakeside, where the brand hopes to emulate the success of its 500 other outlets across 13 countries.
Menchie’s was founded in 2007 with a single outlet in Los Angeles’s Valley Village and is now the world’s largest self-service frozen yoghurt chain with a presence in countries including China, Japan and Australia but this is the first time it has opened a store in Europe.
It is the latest catering brand to open at intu Lakeside ahead of a new leisure extension being created at the centre. The 225,000 sq ft extension will host Nickelodeon’s first UK shopping centre attraction and forms part of intu’s £600 million, 3 year development programme which will bring a range of new leisure facilities to its shopping centres across the UK.
Rebecca Ryman, regional director of intu, said: “intu Lakeside’s new leisure offer lies at the heart of our strategy to bring together a strong leisure and retail mix within all our centres and will provide our customers with more great reasons to visit what is already one of the country’s most successful shopping centres.
“This makes intu Lakeside exactly the right space for exciting brands like Menchie’s to firmly establish themselves within the UK and European markets for the first time and benefit from the increased number of visitors set to visit the centre from further and for longer.”
Pitched as a specialist in frozen yoghurt, Menchie’s offering includes nearly 100 flavours and 70 toppings with non-fat, low-carbohydrate, no-added-sugar, gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free options included within its menu.
Benny Shahar, Menchie’s Franchisee said "We’re really looking forward to introducing the high quality yogurt and friendly atmosphere of Menchie’s to Europe for the first time with our new intu Lakeside store. We want Menchie’s to become a great place for gathering with friends and families so where better place to launch our first store than alongside intu Lakeside’s great family friendly offering?”
Twenty other names including Five Guys, Wasabi, and Red Dog already form part of intu Lakeside’s award winning food court. intu revealed plans for an indoor Nickelodeon activity park at intu Lakeside in May as the result of a partnership with Spanish leisure park operator Parques Reunidos. It is due to open in 2018.
