Waitrose to roll out new ‘neighbourhood’ stores as part of £1bn investment
Waitrose is planning to roll out new neighbourhood-size stores as part of a £1 billion investment plan spanning shops, online and on-demand grocery, and travel retail partnerships.
The retailer said it is putting customer choice at the heart of its expansion plans with a highly localised, multi-format store strategy matching size, layout and ranging directly to regional demand.
Subscribe to TRBBridging the gap between a convenience store and a full-line supermarket, the ‘neighbourhood’ concept has been introduced at Waitrose’s new shop in Chelmer Village, Essex.
Designed for suburban neighbourhoods where Waitrose is already popular, the 7,000 square foot mid-size stores will stock more than 6,500 products, as the retailer looks to appeal to customers on a variety of shopping missions and also establish a trip to Waitrose as part of the weekly routine.
Multi-format physical estate
Waitrose’s plans for its physical estate include 28 refurbishments and targeted expansion across multiple formats this year.
Two full-line supermarkets are scheduled to open in Hale Barns, Manchester, and Cricklewood, London, this autumn, along with a third at Brabazon in Bristol, part of a major new city district. A new convenience shop will also open in Ascot in the autumn.
Meanwhile, Waitrose is building its presence in travel retail across major transport hubs, with four new Relay shops opening this year at Heathrow Terminal 2, alongside existing partnerships with 35 Welcome Break sites and 107 Shell forecourts.
The retailer will also open its first distribution centre in Avonmouth, South West England, early next year and is actively seeking new leasehold and freehold store opportunities across accessible, high-footfall locations in towns, suburbs and city centres.
Tina Mitchell, Waitrose retail director, said: “As the ‘Home of Food Lovers,’ our growth is shaped by adapting to how our customers live and shop. Today’s consumers no longer rely on a single weekly trip to the supermarket; grocery shopping is an omnichannel experience.
“Backed by our multi-year £1 billion investment plan, our ambition is to be wherever our customers want us. We are looking for high-footfall, ‘right size, right location’ sites nationwide to make it easier than ever for people to experience our uncompromising standards, quality and expert partner service.”
