UK: Waitrose to open 100 convenience stores in next five years

Supermarket chain Waitrose, a subsidiary of the John Lewis Partnership, has announced plans to invest £1 billion ($1.31 billion) over the next five years to open 100 convenience stores and refurbish 150 existing outlets.

The store upgrades will feature revamped service counters and expanded space for on-demand grocery orders, as well as branded concessions such as Crosstown doughnuts and Sushi Daily.

Commenting on the move, Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: “Waitrose will always offer fantastic food, but the groundwork we have undertaken behind the scenes in recent years means we can now focus on growth through new shops and ensuring our existing ones are providing great shopping experiences that match the quality of our products”.

John Lewis Partnership chief executive officer Nish Kankiwala added: “Our investment in our Waitrose store portfolio is already yielding strong results, with customers responding positively. As our retail driven plan continues to gain traction, our growing number of shoppers and increasing customer satisfaction scores are clear indicators of its success”.

Waitrose expects to open its first new store in six years in Hampton Hill, London, later this year, followed by a second in Greater London early next year.

Source: John Lewis Partnership / FoodBev