Waitrose has introduced a new type of store that it will be launching in the UK. The supermarket giant currently operates two main types of stores in Britain: its large supermarkets and numerous Little Waitrose locations. However, the new concept will bridge the gap between these two existing store formats, with dozens of these new stores expected to open across the country. The British grocer is currently the eighth largest supermarket in the UK in terms of market share and turnover.
Waitrose confirmed it is opening dozens of mid-sized ‘neighbourhood’ stores, which will target suburban areas and commuter towns with high footfall. These stores are expected to span about 7,000 square feet and stock about 6,500 products. Unlike the Little Waitrose convenience stores dotted around the country, these stores will feature larger bakeries and a wider range of cooking ingredients, with a focus on fresh food.
Additionally, each of them is expected to have around 50 parking spaces. Waitrose says that it has plans to open 20 of these stores.
Waitrose retail director Tina Mitchell said that the supermarket chain is looking for “right size, right location” sites nationwide with high footfall. It is reported that Waitrose is competing with M&S with these kinds of stores, as the latter has over 1,000 stores around the UK and is rapidly continuing to open even more.
Some of Waitrose’s mid-sized stores have already opened in places like Leatherhead and Oxted in Surrey, Bromsgrove, Knutsford and Jesmond in Newcastle. Meanwhile, the recent opening at Chelmer Village Retail Park in Essex spans 7,000sq ft and stocks more than 6,500 products.
Waitrose Chelmer Village branch manager Richard Upton said: “We’ve wanted to expand Waitrose in Essex and bring our fantastic quality products to even more food lovers in the area.”
The new neighbourhood stores form part of the chain’s £1bn multi-year investment programme. This includes refurbishments and new openings, as well as other upgrades across its estate.
Earlier this year, Waitrose revealed that it was slashing the prices of essential food items. In May, it said it would invest more than £20 million into lower prices, cutting costs by an average of 12% on more than 160 own-brand items.