ECO STORE TO OPEN AT LEEDS SHOPPING CENTRE

13/08/2021 New Image for ECO STORE TO OPEN AT LEEDS SHOPPING CENTRE

An eco store that sells plastic-free goods has signed up for a unit at a community shopping centre in a Leeds suburb.

The ecoTopia store at the Bramley Shopping Centre will be the company’s second shop, joining its other outlet at Central Arcade in the city centre, after signing a five-year lease with commercial property and investment company LCP for a 1497 sq ft shop.

The business specialises in zero-waste products and enables shoppers to take their own containers to buy goods, such as pasta, pulse, spices, cereals and dried fruit. It also sells toiletries, pet supplies and eco-friendly cleaning products.

Co-owners Michelle Arthur and Samantha Newton said: “We're so excited to join this local community, as we know it's a really strong one and we'd love to become a part of it. We hope this community cares as much for the environment as it does for its neighbours, since, of course, this is the kind of thing we offer - plastic free, sustainable and ethical goods.

“When we mapped it out, a large majority of our online custom comes from Bramley, so this showed us that Bramley has a demand for our kind of business.

“We try to be as reasonably priced as possible and compete with the big supermarkets where we can. Our aim was always to make everything as affordable as possible to those of all backgrounds, so being eco-friendly doesn't have to mean breaking the bank.”

Welcoming ecoTopia to Bramley Shopping Centre, Rakesh Joshi, LCP associate director (convenience parades), said: “It is great to see an ambitious local enterprise wanting to grow its business at Bramley and it adds a new type of retailer to the portfolio, providing local shoppers with even more choice on their doorstep.”

Bramley Shopping Centre is a 132,000 sq ft development, located approximately four miles north-west of Leeds city centre. It is anchored by a Tesco supermarket and other tenants include Boots, William Hill, Poundstretcher and Farmfoods.