Allego's £100m UK EV bet targets retail parking lots

The charging hubs give retailers more than an extra service amenity. By encouraging drivers to visit while they charge, the infrastructure can increase footfall, extend dwell time and create new opportunities for in-store or food-and-beverage spending, Allego said.

Allego has already developed partnerships with major consumer brands across Europe, including IKEA in Belgium, REWE in Germany and Burger King in France. Beyond installation, the company works with hosts on joint marketing campaigns, loyalty initiatives and customer offers designed to strengthen the connection between charging and the retail experience.

Allego began operating in the UK in 2017 and sees the country as one of Europe's strongest growth opportunities for EV charging, Salo said. The company currently operates across 15 European countries with more than 35,000 charging points across its wider network.

"This €100 million commitment reflects our confidence in the UK EV market and in the role that retail and hospitality businesses can play in its growth," Salo said. "The UK is electrifying quickly, but charging infrastructure must expand at the same pace. Retailers, hospitality brands and leisure facilities have some of the best-located and most frequently visited sites in the country."

Salo said Allego is looking for "ambitious partners" that want to improve their customer offer and strengthen sustainability credentials. He added that the company believes the new government will make the right policy decisions to support market growth. "With a stable policy and investment environment, EV charging can support economic growth while providing infrastructure increasingly needed by consumers and businesses."