Premium grocer Waitrose will open 26 shops across the UK in 2014 as it aims to continue its impressive market growth.
15 new supermarkets and 11 ‘Little Waitrose‘ convenience stores will be added to the 100+ shops it has opened over the last five years.
Affluent areas of the country such as Egham, Sherborne and Malmesbury will see new Waitrose branches built, which follows discounter Aldi‘s move into monied areas such as Winchester and Knutsford. The supermarkets will range from 12,000 sq ft (Sherborne and Edenbridge) to 29,000 sq ft (Locks Heath.)
Waitrose, Director of development, Nigel Keen, said: “Our growth story continues as we take the brand to more customers and invest in our omni-channel approach.”
The grocer is set to open a second e-commerce dark store in Coulsdon, South London in autumn 2014 which will double its capacity to deliver groceries to online shoppers . Waitrose saw its strongest Christmas on record this year as LFL sales (ex fuel) rose 3.1 per cent as 22,000 items went through checkouts every minute on 23 December.
