The East India Company and Lend Lease are delighted to announce the launch of the Company’s store at the Bluewater, Europe’s leading retail leisure and events destination. The stunning new 450 sq ft space is The Company’s first to open within the UK since the launch of its flagship in London’s Mayfair in August 2010.
Situated on Bluewater’s lower Guildhall, the store is set to open its doors in early October. The gastronomic emporium will carry an expertly curated selection of teas and coffees; artisan sweet and savoury biscuits; an exquisite chocolate range including luxurious bars and an enrobed selection of fruits, coffee beans and nuts; flavourful jams, marmalades and mustards; and gourmet salts and sugars. This extensive selection of gourmet foods and premium teas will be the first fine foods offer at Bluewater.
The East India Company was established over 400 years ago during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I by English merchant adventurers drawn to the lure and promise of the East. Travelling to Japan, China, India, the Spice Islands, (even founding Singapore along the way), they brought home treasures of every kind and, most especially, wonderful new foods and drinks, the most famous of which was tea.
Today, The Company continues to explore the world to surprise, delight and excite customers with inspirational tastes that have remarkable connections at their heart – crafted from the finest ingredients the world has to offer, each product imbued with a special quality to make it memorable.
Commenting on the new store launch, Manan Bhansali, Vice President of Operations said:
“We are delighted to be opening our second store in the UK at Bluewater. It is a premier shopping destination and has a fantastic and loyal customer base, one that we are looking forward to sharing our fine foods with.
“To date, we have been able to share the rich stories of The East India Company through our Flagship store in London, and the new Bluewater store will give us a tremendous opportunity to invite food enthusiasts from the surrounding area to experience our extensive range. This launch increases the accessibility of The Company’s gourmet offering in the UK, having recently also launched a ‘store in store’ on Ocado.”
Guy Thomas, Head of Retail Leasing at Lend Lease, added: “East India Company’s selection of Bluewater as a key location for its expansion reflects its status as the destination of choice for premium brands seeking access to one of the strongest and most discerning catchments in the UK. The Company’s focus on delivering a unique experience is also very complementary to own ethos.”
In London, The East India Company’s products are stocked by major retailers including Harrods, Selfridges, Japanese department store Mitsukoshi, and features in both The British Library and National Maritime Museum, where there is an exhibition dedicated to The Company called ‘Traders’. The Company has also worked closely with The National Gallery, London to craft a range of art inspired teas that are now exclusively available at The East India Company and The National Gallery.
Internationally, its fine foods products are stocked in premium retail stores from David Jones in Australia, Galeriers Lafayette in France, The Bijenkorf in Holland, Shinsaegae in South Korea, to primary department stores and supermarkets in Japan including Takashimaya, Queen’s Isetan, Seijo Ishii, Mitsukoshi and Meida-ya.
For further information and to order any of the products log on to http://www.eicfinefoods.com/