PRESS​ ​RELEASEEUROPE’S​ ​LARGEST​ ​JAPANESE​ ​FOOD​ ​HALL​ ​‘ICHIBA’​ ​COMES​ ​TO
WESTFIELD​ ​LONDONDeal​ ​marks​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​enhanced​ ​dining​ ​offer​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​centre’s​ ​£600m​ ​expansion

14 November 2017 – Europe’s largest Japanese Food Hall – ​Ichiba – will open at Westfield
London​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​centre’s​ ​£600​ ​million​ ​expansion,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​revealed​ ​today.
The 17,400 sq. ft. flagship store will feature food stations dedicated to freshly prepared andcooked food. The main food hall will offer a large range of Japanese staples and kitchen
essentials, from rice, miso and soy sauce, to a wide selection of sake, rice crackers, andconfectionery,​ ​alongside​ ​books​ ​and​ ​handpicked​ ​ceramics​ ​from​ ​the​ ​leading​ ​craft​ ​prefectures​.
An enhanced dining offer is a key focus of the 740,000 sq. ft. expansion of Westfield London
which, on launch in March 2018, will make the centre the largest in Europe, almost 10 years
after its doors first opened. The expansion has been designed to consolidate the centre’sposition​ ​as​ ​the​ ​go-to​ ​destination​ ​for​ ​not​ ​only​ ​fashion​ ​but​ ​food,​ ​leisure​ ​and​ ​entertainment.
Keith Mabbett, Director of Leasing, Westfield UK and Europe, said: “We’re are thrilled toannounce Europe’s largest Japanese food hall will be opening at Westfield London as part ofour expansion plans. As well as welcoming more fashion and home retailers to ourexpansion, innovation in Dining and Leisure will be a key feature of the new Westfield
London, in line with our global approach across our flagship centres. Ichiba is a fantasticconcept that will offer our visitors the opportunity to dine, shop and experience Japanesecuisine​ ​and​ ​culture​ ​with​ ​an​ ​element​ ​of​ ​theatre​ ​–​ ​and​ ​we​ ​know​ ​it​ ​will​ ​be​ ​hugely​ ​popular.”Ichiba is the first joint venture between the Japan Centre Group and Cool Japan Fund, whichhelps support businesses to promote Japanese food and culture overseas. The fund’s
partnerships with local and artisan suppliers across Japan will allow Ichiba to offer authentic
products and rare regional produce from some of the best producers and farmers exclusivelyto​ ​the​ ​UK.
Other partners include Gekkeikan sake and Kikkoman who ​will be able to offer shoppers aunique opportunity to sample and try new products while gaining advice and confidence tocook​ ​Japanese​ ​ingredients​ ​at​ ​home.

In-store experiences are also a key part of the new format concept. Theatrical kitchens will
be set around seating for over 200 covers with a changing schedule of weekly cooking
demonstrations and workshops, events, regional food and drink festivals and sake tasting
seminars.
Tak Tokumine, CEO of Japan Centre, added: “I’m delighted to announce this new concept
for people to experience Japanese food culture at Westfield London. Ichiba will be adynamic​ ​and​ ​inspiring​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​the​ ​expanded​ ​centre​ ​and​ ​retail​ ​landscape​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Capital.”

Ichiba will offer a contemporary twist on traditional Japanese elements with in-store
surroundings to support the quality of the food. Japanese style paper structures, flags andtraditional fabrics will break up the space, while lights inspired by chopsticks, lanterns andtraditional wooden elements will help customers navigate the zones of the store. Foodstations will offer everything from katsu curries to sushi and sashimi and authentic street
food​ ​including​ ​takoyaki,​ ​tempura​ ​and​ ​noodles​ ​made​ ​fresh​ ​to​ ​order.
There will also be a traditional Japanese bakery and café serving items such as dorayaki
pancakes with teas including hot or iced matcha lattes. Alongside, this there will be adedicated kaku-uchi sake bar, serving hot sake and regional artisan sake handpicked by thein store sake sommelier and a noodle bar where visitors can sample freshly prepared
noodles​ ​and​ ​tonkotsu​ ​ramen.

The expansion of Westfield London will bring the total gross leasable area (GLA) to 2.6
million sq. ft. and the number of stores across fashion, leisure and entertainment to 450.
Further​ ​major​ ​retailer​ ​announcements​ ​will​ ​be​ ​made​ ​imminently,​ ​Mabbett​ ​confirmed.
-EndsNotes​ ​to​ ​editors
For​ ​press​ ​enquiries​ ​please​ ​contact
For​ ​Westfield​ ​press​ ​enquiries,​ ​please​ ​contact​ ​H+K​ ​Strategies:
WestfieldUK@hkstrategies.com
0207​ ​413​ ​3218
About​ ​Westfield​ ​London’s​ ​Expansion
The​ ​construction​ ​of​ ​the​ ​£600​ ​million​ ​retail​ ​expansion​ ​of​ ​Westfield​ ​London​ ​began​ ​in​ ​2015​ ​and​ ​istargeted​ ​to​ ​launch​ ​in​ ​March​ ​2018.​ ​The​ ​extension​ ​will​ ​consolidate​ ​Westfield​ ​London’s​ ​position​ ​as​ ​aworld-leading​ ​retail​ ​and​ ​entertainment​ ​destination,​ ​featuring​ ​the​ ​best​ ​in​ ​fashion,​ ​dining,​ ​leisure,events,​ ​services​ ​and​ ​technology​ ​with​ ​the​ ​customer​ ​experience​ ​at​ ​the​ ​heart.
The​ ​expansion​ ​will​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​prove​ ​attractive​ ​to​ ​international​ ​and​ ​UK​ ​retailers​ ​seeking​ ​flagshipstores,​ ​building​ ​upon​ ​the​ ​£1​ ​billion​ ​retail​ ​sales​ ​that​ ​the​ ​centre​ ​currently​ ​generates.​ ​On​ ​completion,Westfield​ ​London​ ​will​ ​comprise​ ​around​ ​450​ ​shops​ ​across​ ​2.6m​ ​sq.​ ​ft.​ ​of​ ​gross​ ​lettable​ ​area,​ ​within​ ​adigitally​ ​enhanced​ ​customer​ ​experience.
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740,000​ ​sq.​ ​ft.​ ​of​ ​additional​ ​retail,​ ​dining,​ ​entertainment​ ​and​ ​leisure,​ ​bringing​ ​the​ ​total​ ​to​ ​2.6m​ ​sq.
ft.​ ​plus​ ​additional​ ​office​ ​floor​ ​space​ ​(47,000​ ​sq.​ ​ft.)
Largest​ ​shopping​ ​centre​ ​in​ ​Europe​ ​and​ ​largest​ ​retail​ ​development​ ​under​ ​construction​ ​and​ ​openingin​ ​2018+​ ​90​ ​shops​ ​including​ ​230,000​ ​sq.​ ​ft.​ ​John​ ​Lewis​ ​department​ ​store​ ​plus​ ​additional​ ​flagship​ ​storesand​ ​restaurants,​ ​bringing​ ​the​ ​total​ ​to​ ​450​ ​storesA​ ​major​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​dining​ ​and​ ​experience​ ​around​ ​a​ ​dedicated​ ​open​ ​events​ ​space​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Dimco
Building
1,000​ ​additional​ ​parking​ ​spaces​ ​-​ ​Total​ ​5,500​ ​parking​ ​spaces
1522​ ​new​ ​homes​ ​including​ ​affordable​ ​homes.

About​ ​Japan​ ​Centre
Japan​ ​Centre​ ​began​ ​life​ ​in​ ​1976​ ​with​ ​a​ ​suitcase​ ​full​ ​of​ ​Japanese​ ​books​ ​and​ ​an​ ​idea​ ​to​ ​cater​ ​for​ ​thecommunity​ ​of​ ​Japanese​ ​people​ ​living​ ​in​ ​London.​ ​Japan​ ​Centre​ ​has​ ​since​ ​grown​ ​to​ ​become​ ​one​ ​of​ ​thelargest​ ​and​ ​most​ ​influential​ ​Japanese​ ​shops​ ​in​ ​London,​ ​adding​ ​a​ ​supermarket,​ ​bakery,​ ​deli,restaurant,​ ​homeware​ ​department​ ​and​ ​online​ ​service​ ​to​ ​its​ ​repertoire.​ ​The​ ​mission​ ​has​ ​always​ ​been​ ​tooffer​ ​the​ ​best​ ​value​ ​Japanese​ ​food​ ​both​ ​in​ ​store​ ​and​ ​online,​ ​the​ ​best​ ​variety​ ​and​ ​the​ ​best​ ​service.
Japan​ ​Centre​ ​has​ ​a​ ​diverse​ ​range​ ​of​ ​services​ ​for​ ​Japanese​ ​living​ ​in​ ​the​ ​UK​ ​&​ ​Europe,​ ​and​ ​for​ ​those
simply​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​the​ ​exciting​ ​world​ ​of​ ​Japanese​ ​food​ ​and​ ​culture.
About​ ​Tak​ ​Tokumine​ ​–​ ​Japan​ ​Centre​ ​and​ ​Shoryu​ ​Ramen​ ​CEOA​ ​successful​ ​entrepreneur​ ​and​ ​a​ ​key​ ​figure​ ​in​ ​the​ ​ethnic​ ​food​ ​market,​ ​Tak​ ​gained​ ​invaluable​ ​businessskills​ ​working​ ​for​ ​his​ ​family’s​ ​steel​ ​trading​ ​company​ ​in​ ​Fukuoka,​ ​before​ ​marrying​ ​and​ ​settling​ ​in​ ​the​ ​UKin​ ​1975.​ ​From​ ​its​ ​beginning​ ​in​ ​1976,​ ​Japan​ ​Centre​ ​has​ ​grown​ ​to​ ​become​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​influential
and​ ​well​ ​known​ ​Japanese​ ​stores​ ​in​ ​the​ ​UK​ ​and​ ​across​ ​Europe.
About​ ​Cool​ ​Japan​ ​Fund
Founded​ ​in​ ​November​ ​2013​ ​as​ ​a​ ​public-private​ ​fund,​ ​part​ ​owned​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Japanese​ ​government.​ ​It
aims​ ​to​ ​support​ ​and​ ​promote​ ​the​ ​development​ ​of​ ​demand​ ​overseas​ ​for​ ​excellent​ ​Japanese​ ​products
and​ ​services.​ ​It​ ​looks​ ​to​ ​support​ ​businesses​ ​across​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​areas,​ ​including​ ​media​ ​&​ ​content,​ ​food&​ ​services,​ ​and​ ​fashion​ ​&​ ​lifestyle.
About​ ​Gekkeikan
Gekkeikan​ ​is​ ​a​ ​Japanese​ ​manufacturer​ ​of​ ​sake​ ​and​ ​plum​ ​wine​ ​based​ ​in​ ​Fushimi,​ ​Kyoto,​ ​Japan.
Founded​ ​in​ ​1637​ ​by​ ​Jiemon​ ​Ōkura,​ ​in​ ​Fushimi,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world's​ ​oldest​ ​companies​ ​and​ ​is​ ​thechosen​ ​sake​ ​of​ ​Japan’s​ ​Royal​ ​Family.
About​ ​Kikkoman​ ​CorporationThe​ ​origins​ ​of​ ​Kikkoman​ ​date​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​17th​ ​century​ ​and​ ​it​ ​was​ ​incorporated​ ​in​ ​Noda,​ ​Chiba
Prefecture,​ ​Japan​ ​in​ ​1917.​ ​Kikkoman​ ​is​ ​primarily​ ​known​ ​for​ ​its​ ​premium​ ​range​ ​of​ ​soy​ ​sauces​ ​and​ ​its
products​ ​are​ ​enjoyed​ ​in​ ​more​ ​than​ ​100​ ​countries​ ​and​ ​regions​ ​worldwide.​ ​In​ ​addition​ ​to​ ​soy​ ​sauce
brewing,​ ​Kikkoman​ ​also​ ​operates​ ​a​ ​wholesale​ ​business​ ​for​ ​oriental​ ​food​ ​products.​ ​It​ ​contributes​ ​to​ ​thespread​ ​of​ ​Japanese​ ​food​ ​culture​ ​all​ ​over​ ​the​ ​world.