Station shopping trends point to changing consumer habits as sales grow by 3.5%
New figures have shown that like-for-like retail sales at Network Rail managed stations grew by 3.5% from July to September. This equates to total sales of over £166 million, up from £160 million in the same period last year.
Coffee shops and ‘food on the go’ purchases showed the strongest growth with the equivalent of 4.8 million cups of coffee sold in the quarter.
Asian food outlets and grocery sales were also strong sector performers across Network Rail’s managed stations, with 10% and 6% growth recorded respectively.
Overall sales growth was strongest in London with King’s Cross at 13% followed by Paddington at 9%. Outside London, Manchester Birmingham and Glasgow also performed well with respective growth of 10%, 8% and 6%.
The largest Network Rail managed stations by sales value were Waterloo at £27 million, Liverpool Street at £23 million and Euston at £21 million.
The number of people shopping at stations as a percentage of total station visitors was in line with the previous quarter at 31%.
Network Rail said its ongoing investment at stations across the UK, including Birmingham New Street, King’s Cross, Glasgow Central and Manchester Piccadilly, has helped deliver stations that are not just places to travel to and from, but destinations in their own right.
This investment is continuing with retail enhancement projects underway at London’s Liverpool Street, Paddington, Euston and London Bridge stations.
David Biggs, Network Rail’s managing director of property, said: “The trend in our results reflect the changes in how consumers are choosing to shop. Busy commuters and other people who use our stations want to be able to shop at a time and place that works for them. And that is why the upgrades we’ve made and are continuing to make to stations across Britain are proving so popular.
“Station retail investment is improving stations for our customers, while crucially generating vital funds to reinvest back into the railway.”
