Waitrose unveils refurbished flagship store

Waitrose has re-opened its largest branch today following the addition of a £15 million extension.

The flagship store now totals 74,000 sq ft and will be the first Waitrose store to be branded ‘Waitrose Food, Fashion & Home’.

Waitrose said the transformation was the supermarket’s largest-ever refurbishment.

The store will sell a range of food and drink items as well as a selection of homewares, furnishings, and fashion and beauty items. The store is aimed specifically at the Canary Wharf customer, many of whom are commuters working in the area.

The three floor store benefits from the addition of a new canal-side entrance which will allow access for thousands of extra customers a day.

With the highest turnover of any Waitrose, the Food, Fashion & Home branch currently serves 80,000 customers a week.


Waitrose managing director Mark Price said: "This is our biggest ever investment in an existing branch, and we're excited about the changes we’ve made. The branch won awards when it was built nearly 10 years ago, and this transformation will underline its status as our flagship shop and as a major shopping destination in its own right. We're confident it will be an inspirational shopping experience for our customers, and we’re especially pleased that the refurbishment will allow us to bring another 150 Partners into our business."

Waitrose said the refurbished store has created 150 jobs for local people.

Source: The Retail Bulletin