Future expansion
Waitrose aims to extend its store presence whilst improving price perceptions and developing an integrated multi-channel offer.
Waitrose is continuing its expansion into new smaller format Convenience shops with the announcement in August 2010 that it has acquired premises ranging from 3,000 to 6,500 square feet at Knutsford (Cheshire), Old Brompton (South Kensington, London), Hornchurch (Essex) and Amersham (Buckinghamshire). All but the Knutsford shop are due to open by Christmas 2010.
A joint planning application to create Scotland's first purpose built Waitrose store has been lodged with East Renfrewshire Council by Gleniffer Estates plc and Waitrose. The proposal would create Scotland's largest Waitrose shop to date, located off Crookfur Road in Newton Mearns.
Waitrose will take possession of the 19,000 sq ft Somerfield store in Nailsea on 12 August 2010 and will open there the following month. Branches will also open in 2010 in Leeds Meanwood and Poynton. A new store is due to open in Wells, Somerset in spring 2012.
In June 2010 Waitrose announced its intentions to expand into the Channel Islands with the acquisition of three supermarkets in Jersey and two in Guernsey. The shops, which will provide over 130,000 sq ft of selling space, will open as Waitrose in a phased programme in early 2011.
As the result of the franchise partnership with Welcome Break, it was announced in September 2009 that a further nine food shops will be opened at motorway service areas, with the first three having been opened in November 2009.
Shell U.K. Oil Products Limited (Shell) and Waitrose have announced a new product-supply relationship, which will see a selection of Waitrose products sold in three Shell forecourt shops in the UK, on a trial basis. The three trial sites are located at Shell service stations in Fouroaks, Fiveways and London Road, all in the Birmingham area.
Waitrose and Boots UK are working together through a number of joint development opportunities. The two businesses are in the process of re-branding the Boots UK-owned pharmacies located in 13 Waitrose stores to 'Boots Pharmacy' - this work is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. Waitrose and Boots will also trial the sale of very selective product ranges in each others' stores, including Boots supporting Waitrose with healthcare and well-being ranges and Waitrose supporting Boots with a range of food. The first four Boots branches with a range of 'Food for now' offering opened in Canary Wharf, Swansea, Abingdon and Milton Keynes. The selection will be extended to a further 1,500 lines, including ready meals, fruit, meat, wine and some essential Waitrose products.
Find out more
For more information visit the Waitrose website (www.waitrose.com/branches).
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