Sainsbury's links with Fat Face in trial concessions deal

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Nov 7, 2019

Sainsbury’s is continuing its efforts to boost its fashion operations while also making the most of spare space in its superstores and is linking up with Fat Face on concessions. It’s the latest connection it has made with an external brand as it works to add to the breadth of product and the service offer in its shops.

Retail Week reported that the Fat Face deal is starting with pilot concessions at Sydenham in south London and Calcot in the Reading area, with the supermarkets retailer saying the brand would complement its existing Tu in-house brand.

The concessions are expected to open in time for Black Friday and if they prove to be a hit with customers, more are to be added in 2020.

Fashion is an increasingly important product category for the formerly-food-focused retailer and it’s already one of the biggest providers of fashion in the UK. As well as its Tu offer, it has also forged partnerships with womenswear retailer Oasis and adults’-and-children’s shoe specialist Clarks.

Retail Week said as much as 400,000 sq ft of space in its stores is now occupied by third-party concessions.

Meanwhile Fat Face itself said that the company and the supermarket have “a natural alignment on customer demographics”.

The move comes as the UK’s biggest supermarket chain, Tesco, has also forged external partnerships, linking up with fashion retail giants Arcadia and Next.