Intu Properties : Derby adds aspirational brand Hotel Chocolat to its retail mix

Luxury British chocolatier and cocoa grower, Hotel Chocolat, is opening its 1,797 sq ft café store at intu Derby.

Luxury British chocolatier and cocoa grower, Hotel Chocolat, is opening its 1,797 sq ft café store at intu Derby.

Hotel Chocolat's café store will offer customers its full range of exclusive chocolates and cocoa cuisine; all made according to their mantra -"more cocoa, less sugar". The store also includes a café, featuring its 'Ice Cream of the Gods', which is infused with Saint Lucian Theobroma cocoa nibs, and a selection of cocoa-based drinks.

The retailer has eight stores across intu's portfolio of prime retail and leisure destinations, includingintu Lakesideandintu Trafford Centre.

Peter Harris, co-founder for Hotel Chocolat, said: "We are thrilled to be expanding our portfolio with the launch of our first café store in Derby. Ideally placed in the heart of the city, it promises to offer customers visiting intu Derby the perfect retreat, serving our signature cocoa-based drinks."

intu Derby is celebrating a successful year of new openings with retailers such as Lovisa taking prime retail space, and Lush and Vodafone doubling their footprint at the centre.

Nick Round, regional managing director for intu, said: "According to CACI, Hotel Chocolat is one of the top brands requested by Derby shoppers, so the brand is guaranteed to drive even more customers to the centre and provide another opportunity for all our retailers to flourish. The luxury retailer complements the centre's rapidly growing mix of aspirational brands."

With a potential £10.9 billion retail expenditure within a 45 minutes' drive of the centre, and a catchment population of 2.3 million, intu Derby is a prime retail and leisure destination drawing in visitors from across the region.