THE COMPANY behind Kildare Village shopping outlet centre saw turnover increase 17 per cent to €6.2 million last year.

According to accounts for Value Retail Dublin, the company behind the development, turnover was made up largely of €3.5 million in licence fees and about €2.6 million in service charges from retail tenants. Both licence and service charge income increased.

However, a rise in interest payments on the company’s loans, as well as higher expenses, meant the company made a loss of almost €4.2 million during the year.

The operating loss, before interest payments are taken into consideration, was just shy of €750,000, accounts filed at the Companies Office show.

In a statement, Value Retail said yesterday it continued to invest in the growth of Kildare Village.

“We are pleased with the strong increase in our sales, the gains in visitors from our global tourism markets and the arrival of new international brands.”

Director of retail and marketing Maria McGovern said in July that Kildare Village hoped to increase overseas visitors numbers from 8.5 per cent to 16 per cent of the total this year.

In their report accompanying the accounts, the directors said the centre was in talks with further brands wishing to trade in the village, where some 60 fashion brands sell collections from the previous season at a discount.

Luxury brands at the centre include bag-maker Anya Hindmarch, lingerie-and-legwear company Wolford and luggage-maker Samsonite. Kildare Village opened in July 2006, with the construction financed by a €37.5 million loan from Bank of Scotland (Ireland) now transferred to Bank of Scotland plc.