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FOOD / OPINION

Food feedback

Coverpoint’s Jonathan Doughty serves up his regular shopping centre foodservice review. This month he visits Chilango at Meadowhall.

Look North

As the Northern Ireland Region of Shopping Centres prepares for its first- ever conference, as part of its 21st anniversary celebrations, there are signs of renewed activity in the market. The surge in cross-border trade has

subsided with the increase in UK VAT and the easing of exchange rate pressures, coupled with the reduction in spending power of consumers in the Republic. In towns like Newry cross-border shoppers accounted for 60 per cent of trade in 2008/9. Everyone knew that this was unsustainable and trade has fallen back to the historic average of around 25 per cent. But the rest of the market is more

of a mixed bag, with some positive signs emerging. One strong trend this year has been the emergence of the value retailers, with Poundland and B&M Bargains taking stores across the region. They are proving to be strong drivers of footfall, especially in some of the smaller centres. The economy may be going through tough times but shopping centre managers and ancillary service providers just have to get on with things. And that’s the theme of the region’s first shopping centre managers’ conference: despite the cuts and added pressures we’re “Taking Care of Business.”

Karen Marshall Chairperson Northern Ireland Region of Shopping Centres

During the first week we haven’t had rain, and before the volcanic ash arrived, I ventured to Meadowhall to have a look at the reconfiguration of the Oasis space in the upper level of the food court. This level has seen the introduction of restaurant brands such as Frankie & Benny’s, Handmade Burger Co and Chilango over the past year. The restaurants were particularly busy during the visit, especially Frankie & Benny’s, but my choice, Chilango, was less so. On entering the unit, three of the staff were busy cleaning and conducting general housekeeping, while three others were behind the counter ready to serve. I selected my meal, a burrito, chose a grilled chicken filling and added guacamole, together with a bottomless soda. All the ingredients were fresh, with the meat just being cooked, and having mastered the ‘unwrapping’ of a burrito, I was very comfortable with my lot. At £8.10 however, this could hardly be considered cheap fast food, which is good because it was a substantial meal, which was also well

SHOPPING CENTRE May 2010 www.shopping-centre.co.uk

prepared and tasted great. The unit is bright, modern and well designed so the guest can understand easily how to queue, order and pick up product. The overall experience was pretty good – until I went to the toilet facilities. It is absolutely beyond me why any operator would allow such an important part of their business to be left unattended and in such a poor state. This is the first departure from London for the Chilango brand. I think it translates well, although the unit does look very large for the business levels, and a number of potential customers ‘baulked’ at the asking price and walked away.

Despite this, what we do know is that the burrito is here to stay and is becoming a ‘mainstream’ offer in UK shopping centres.

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