Waitrose has announced a huge extension of its operations to further its share of the convenience market and form strong ties with Boots and Welcome Break.
The upmarket retailer is targeting a potential 300 convenience stores as it looks to capitalise on the success of its Nottingham and Bristol outlets.
The move could create up to 3,500 jobs as the retailer looks to open nine new motorway outlets in Welcome Break services and broker a potentially lucrative deal with pharmacy Boots.
Waitrose is to open two similar outlets in north London and Oxted, in Surrey, before trialling some smaller convenience shops next year.
The retailer entered into a franchise partnership with Welcome Break in April, which has seen the opening of Waitrose shops at service stations near Oxford and London. This will eventually be extended to nine further stores, with the first three outlets scheduled to open in November.
The supermarket currently has just two convenience stores, which are between 5,000sqft and 7,000sqft in size with the new format set to be between 2,000 sqft and 4,000 sqft.
The retailer has also announced a tie-up with Boots, which will see Waitrose food alongside its products in the chain’s nationwide stores. It is thought that the food would constitute more than the sandwiches, snacks and drinks that Boots currently stocks, but discussions are ongoing.
The two businesses are also in the process of rebranding pharmacies located in 13 Waitrose stores to Boots by the end of November.
Waitrose is targeting the potential 6.5 millions shoppers it believes cannot easily access its stores at present.
Waitrose reported a 7.4 per cent rise in sales and operating profits ahead 18.7 per cent last week.
Waitrose managing director Mark Price said: "By opening these new channels and formats, we'll be making Waitrose accessible to more customers in more places and we'll be able to create thousands of new jobs.
"With continued strong performance from our existing stores and this move into the convenience market, we are planning for double-digit growth for the foreseeable future.”
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