Frasers Group expands property portfolio by acquiring Swindon Designer Outlet.
Frasers Group has announced yet another significant property acquisition, confirming on Tuesday that it has purchased the Swindon Designer Outlet. The company stated that the move marks "a meaningful step towards achieving the group's vision of building the planet's most admired and compelling brand ecosystem."
Frasers Group also explained that through acquisitions of "strategic physical retail locations like Swindon," it supports key brand partners' outlet strategies. These partners include major names such as Nike, Adidas, and Boss. The ultimate goal is to serve consumers across the UK with improved value and product offerings.
The acquisition price was not disclosed by the company. However, reports from a few months prior suggested that Frasers Group was in talks to acquire the property for around £275 million. The Swindon Designer Outlet, which opened in 1997, covers 250,000 sq ft and attracts over 3 million visitors annually. Outlet centres are currently among the most buoyant shopping destinations in the UK across all price levels.
Before this transaction, the centre had been owned by LaSalle Investment Management since 2022 and managed by the outlet-specialist McArthurGlen Group. This news follows a recent flurry of property deals by the acquisitive retail giant, coming just a month after Frasers acquired Braehead Shopping Centre in Glasgow.
CEO Michael Murray commented on the acquisition, stating: "Physical retail is central to our Elevation Strategy and investing in Swindon—one of the UK's top five outlets by footfall—strengthens our position as both retailer and landlord." Murray added that the acquisition "reinforces our property strategy and unlocks new opportunities for our brands and our partners." The company's recent property purchases also include shopping centres such as Princesshay, Overgate, Fremlin Walk, Frenchgate, and Junction 32 Outlet Park.
