UK- Railway network owner and infrastructure manager Network Rail has announced the opening of Popeyes at Waterloo Station in London, the Louisiana chicken restaurant’s first-ever train station restaurant.
The restaurant will comprise of 1,820 square feet of prime retail space. Popeyes launched its new retail space by offering 50 free meals for its first 50 customers, with the first three customers allowed to eat free at the new restaurant for the next 12 months.
According to both Popeyes and Network Rail, queuing at the new restaurant started 18 hours before opening, indicating a possible market excitement over the new restaurant.
The partnership and the new restaurant are a continuation of Network Rail’s continued activity in the retail market.
In the past year, Network Rail has introduced new restaurants and food retail brands across all of its 19 managed locations. Popeyes entry into the Waterloo Station broadens and diversifies the products available at the station, joining 25 other food and beverage brands like Marugame, Benugo and the Victory Pub.
This strategy is expected to enhance the experience of passengers on the move, which should translate to increased preference for traveling via its railway system. The railway manager seeks further growth, despite reporting strong performance in the past few years.
Network Rails owns and manages more than 600,000 square feet of retail space in all its major city locations. The railway network manager boasts 700 million visits every year to these locations. In its most recent annual sales report, Network Rail’s sales crossed the £800 million mark.
Hamish Kiernan, Network Rail’s Commercial Director, said, “Introducing international and popular brands to our stations is an essential aspect of our retail strategy, as we strive to make our offering varied for customers. The opening of Popeyes further demonstrates our proactive steps to develop a curated retail mix.”
Tom Crowly, Popeyes® UK’s CEO said, “Waterloo is not only our first travel hub, but has been a key location for us since we landed in the UK, so the response to our opening has been incredible to see.”
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming people to Waterloo and hope to become a regular stop-off for those working and living in the area.”
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