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Waitrose, Britain's fastest-growing supermarket, today signals its intent to create a significant impact on the convenience market through the development of new formats and channels that will dramatically increase its presence in the UK. In announcements covering both expansion through strategic relationships and organic growth, Waitrose is setting out its plan to be accessible to vastly increased numbers of customers. Currently 6.5 million potential customers are unable easily to access Waitrose. Waitrose last week reported strong growth for the half year ending 1 August 2009, with gross sales up 7.4%, operating profit (excluding property profits) up 18.7% and customer numbers up by nearly 6% overall. Commenting on today’s announcement, Managing Director Mark Price said: "We’ve broadened the appeal of our brand with innovations like Essential Waitrose, the ‘Seriously …’ range of indulgent cakes and desserts, Duchy Originals from Waitrose, new non-food ranges, and by being the first UK supermarket to get rid of delivery charges for online grocery shopping - and we’re seeing real sales momentum as a result. "Now, by opening up 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. "We've just reported a robust first half of the year and with continued strong performance from our existing stores and this move into the convenience market, we're planning for double digit growth for the foreseeable future." Strategic relationships Waitrose today announces two strategic relationships that will accelerate its presence in convenience. Based on the success of a trial, Waitrose is today announcing the scaling up of its relationship with Welcome Break. In addition, a new relationship with Boots UK is unveiled. Mark Price comments: “Working with partners of this quality, with their strong reputations and extensive representation, will mean we make a dynamic entry into convenience and fully exploit the business opportunity.” Welcome Break In May 2009 Waitrose entered into its first-ever franchise partnership with Welcome Break, opening shops on the M40 at Oxford and the A1-M25 at South Mimms. These small branches have made a big impact, reaching up to nine million motorists and creating 50 new jobs. This successful Waitrose model will now be rolled out to a further nine Welcome Break sites over the coming months with the potential for additional stores in the future. The first three of these are planned for November 2009. Boots UK Waitrose and Boots UK already have a commercial relationship, and over the past few months have been working to strengthen this through a number of joint development opportunities. The two businesses are in the process of re-branding the Boots UK-owned pharmacies located in 13 Waitrose stores to “Boots Pharmacy” - this work is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. Waitrose and Boots are in discussions to trial the sale of very selective product ranges in each others' stores, including Boots supporting Waitrose with healthcare and well-being ranges and Waitrose supporting Boots with a range of food. In pre-trial research, customers say they see real logic in the development and expect an offer that is beyond what either brand could deliver alone. New formats Waitrose has made successful moves into new formats with (5-7K sq ft) convenience branches. The first of the convenience branches, Trinity Square, Nottingham, was opened in December 2008 followed by Clifton, Bristol in March 2009. Both are performing well and two more will come on stream soon - Crouch End in North London on 8 October and Oxted, Surrey in early December. These four shops have created more than 250 jobs. In the new year, Waitrose plans to trial smaller 2-4K sq ft convenience shops. This move gives Waitrose an overall potential for 300 convenience branches.
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Waitrose, Britain's fastest-growing supermarket, today signals its intent to create a significant impact on the convenience market through the development of new formats and channels that will dramatically increase its presence in the UK. In announcements covering both expansion through strategic relationships and organic growth, Waitrose is setting out its plan to be accessible to vastly increased numbers of customers. Currently 6.5 million potential customers are unable easily to access Waitrose. Waitrose last week reported strong growth for the half year ending 1 August 2009, with gross sales up 7.4%, operating profit (excluding property profits) up 18.7% and customer numbers up by nearly 6% overall. Commenting on today’s announcement, Managing Director Mark Price said: "We’ve broadened the appeal of our brand with innovations like Essential Waitrose, the ‘Seriously …’ range of indulgent cakes and desserts, Duchy Originals from Waitrose, new non-food ranges, and by being the first UK supermarket to get rid of delivery charges for online grocery shopping - and we’re seeing real sales momentum as a result. "Now, by opening up 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. "We've just reported a robust first half of the year and with continued strong performance from our existing stores and this move into the convenience market, we're planning for double digit growth for the foreseeable future." Strategic relationships Waitrose today announces two strategic relationships that will accelerate its presence in convenience. Based on the success of a trial, Waitrose is today announcing the scaling up of its relationship with Welcome Break. In addition, a new relationship with Boots UK is unveiled. Mark Price comments: “Working with partners of this quality, with their strong reputations and extensive representation, will mean we make a dynamic entry into convenience and fully exploit the business opportunity.” Welcome Break In May 2009 Waitrose entered into its first-ever franchise partnership with Welcome Break, opening shops on the M40 at Oxford and the A1-M25 at South Mimms. These small branches have made a big impact, reaching up to nine million motorists and creating 50 new jobs. This successful Waitrose model will now be rolled out to a further nine Welcome Break sites over the coming months with the potential for additional stores in the future. The first three of these are planned for November 2009. Boots UK Waitrose and Boots UK already have a commercial relationship, and over the past few months have been working to strengthen this through a number of joint development opportunities. The two businesses are in the process of re-branding the Boots UK-owned pharmacies located in 13 Waitrose stores to “Boots Pharmacy” - this work is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. Waitrose and Boots are in discussions to trial the sale of very selective product ranges in each others' stores, including Boots supporting Waitrose with healthcare and well-being ranges and Waitrose supporting Boots with a range of food. In pre-trial research, customers say they see real logic in the development and expect an offer that is beyond what either brand could deliver alone. New formats Waitrose has made successful moves into new formats with (5-7K sq ft) convenience branches. The first of the convenience branches, Trinity Square, Nottingham, was opened in December 2008 followed by Clifton, Bristol in March 2009. Both are performing well and two more will come on stream soon - Crouch End in North London on 8 October and Oxted, Surrey in early December. These four shops have created more than 250 jobs. In the new year, Waitrose plans to trial smaller 2-4K sq ft convenience shops. This move gives Waitrose an overall potential for 300 convenience branches.
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