American candle company Yankee Candle® has taken space at the expanded Orchard Centre in Didcot which is owned and managed by Hammerson.
Established in 1969, Yankee Candle has become one of the most recognised names in home fragrance, with the company offering a wide range of seasonal and specialty scented candles, home fragrance products, car air fresheners and candle accessories.
Sarah Senior, Head of Retail Development at Yankee Candle, says, “We are really looking forward to opening the new Yankee Candle store in Orchard Centre, Didcot. The new store will significantly strengthen our presence within Oxfordshire and we are sure that it will offer great value to our shoppers with an improved in-store experience.”
This latest signing follows recent lettings to Mountain Warehouse and JoJo Maman Bebe and the openings of Didcot’s first Nando’s restaurant and Berro Lounge restaurant and bar. The Orchard Centre has a strong line-up of leading brands including FatFace, designer shoe retailer Soletrader, as well as fashion favourites H&M, River Island, Next and TK Maxx.
The £50 million expansion of the Orchard Centre has kick-started the future growth of Didcot town centre, as part of wider plans to transform Didcot into a garden town, which aims to deliver 20,000 new jobs and 15,000 new homes over the next 20 years.
Andrew Berger-North, UK Director of Retail Parks at Hammerson, said: “Yankee Candle is yet another exciting brand for the Orchard Centre and one we are sure will prove popular in the run up to Christmas. The recent flurry of lettings and openings are testament to the centre’s growing appeal.”
Cllr Bill Service, cabinet member for partnership and insight at South Oxfordshire District Council, said, “We’re delighted that the Yankee Candle Company is coming to the Orchard Centre to increase job opportunities in the town centre. It also demonstrates that Didcot and the surrounding business parks continue to be a desirable location for retailers and organisations to invest.”
ENDS