Waitrose opens first convenience store in six years
Waitrose has opened its first convenience store in six years as it looks to grow its estate and build on partnerships with Welcome Break and Shell.
The new 3,000 square foot shop in London’s Hampton Hill is the retailer’s 47th Waitrose-operated convenience store.
The shop is currently trialling a special hatch to allow delivery riders from Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat to make collections more easily. If successful, the hatches could be introduced in other stores.
Waitrose has also announced that it is looking at opportunities for larger convenience shops, some of which could be double the size of Hampton Hill.
The opening comes as Waitrose expands its Welcome Break partnership with new sites launching shortly on the A14 in Spaldwick in Cambridgeshire and the M1 in Rotherham in South Yorkshire.
Waitrose began its partnership with Welcome Break in 2009 and currently trades Little Waitrose from 27 of its motorway service areas. The new stores will be the first the retailer has opened with the company in eleven years.
Through its partnership with Shell, Waitrose has now reached more than 100 forecourt shops it supplies throughout the UK, and is planning to add further new locations in 2025.
James Bailey, executive director for Waitrose, said: “The long associated stereotypes of food at forecourts and service stations are becoming a thing of the past – expectation has moved on and customers are rightfully demanding more.
“They want great tasting, quality food no matter where they are.
“Through new store openings and strategic partnerships we will continue to evolve our shops to get better and better, whilst reaching new locations that help bring Waitrose great quality, service and value closer to more customers.”
