Exclusive: Adidas is to open ‘The Pulse’, its first premium store format, in the UK

Adidas is bringing its newest store concept – The Pulse – to the UK with two retail locations to open this summer as sales edged up in the first quarter of the year.

Having debuted in Texas, The Pulse is the retailer’s premium factory outlet concept designed to offer an elevated product experience along with a focus on activation and promotion.

The new store concept reflects commercial demand and consumer need in its uplifting design treatments and digital content, setting a new benchmark across the Adidas retail store landscape.

The UK’s first Pulse store will open at Fort Kinnaird in Edinburgh. Spanning 11,000 sq ft, it will offer “increased capacity for more of Adidas’ most popular products, with both full-service and self-service areas.”

This will be the sportswear giant’s third Pulse store to open in Europe, after Italy and Germany, with a second UK store to follow at Glasgow Fort later this summer.

Ross McCall, retail leasing and commercialisation director at British Land, the owner and operator of Fort Kinnaird and Glasgow Fort, said: “We’ve got a strong track record of attracting the biggest retail brands at Fort Kinnaird and Glasgow Fort, and Adidas is another huge name to add to our offering across both sites.

“We’re very excited that Fort Kinnaird is going to be home to the UK’s first ‘The Pulse’ store and are confident it will be a hit with customers. It’s yet another example of retailers offering unique experiences to engage even more consumers.”

He continued: “This is another clear indication that the biggest brands are looking to expand their physical footprint, and retail parks are an important part of this. We’re confident that it will help us increase footfall following a successful 2023, and we’ll continue to evolve and improve our offering with even more new fascias, innovative experiences and services for our customers.”