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Auntie Anne’s will open its third container location at Designer Outlet Ashford on Saturday 17 October, marking the next stage in the rollout of the format across the UK.
The new site follows the opening of the soft pretzel and food-to-go franchise’s first container at Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet in 2025 and a second location in Canterbury earlier this year.
Auntie Anne’s said the Ashford opening will build on experience gained from the first two sites as the business assesses how the container format can support its wider expansion across the UK and Ireland.
Designed as a lower-capital-investment format, the container model enables the business to consider locations where a traditional store may not be suitable.
The first container at Cheshire Oaks performed ahead of expectations, giving Auntie Anne’s confidence to explore further opportunities for the format.
The Ashford opening also forms part of the company’s strategy to expand its estate beyond its traditional shopping centre locations.
Containers will sit alongside stores and kiosks within its expansion plans, with Auntie Anne’s targeting high-footfall retail destinations, travel hubs and other non-traditional locations as it works towards operating 100 UK and Ireland sites by 2030.
At the new location, teams will make dough from scratch each day before hand-rolling and baking pretzels in front of customers.
Max Burton, Managing Director, Auntie Anne’s UK&I, said: “Our first container at Cheshire Oaks performed ahead of expectations and demonstrated the potential of the format. Following our opening in Canterbury, Ashford gives us another opportunity to test the concept and build our understanding of where it can work best.
“Containers give us greater flexibility over the locations we can consider and offer another route for franchise partners to grow with us. The format opens up new opportunities while retaining the fresh preparation and product quality at the heart of Auntie Anne’s.
“As we work towards 100 locations by 2030, we see containers playing a meaningful role alongside our established stores and kiosks, helping us bring the brand to more customers across the UK and Ireland.”
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