Waitrose plans to double store count
Waitrose is planning to nearly double its portfolio of shops by 2015 as the supermarket chain looks to build on recent sales gains.
The supermarket aims to have 250 stores open by the end of 2010 with 40 more opening per year through to 2015.
According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph, the store chain, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, also wants to boost the number of branches that stock its product range.
Mark Price, managing director of Waitrose, told the newspaper that he wants to open another 1,000 “partner outlets” by 2015. The supermarket currently has agreements with Boots, Shell filling stations and Welcome Break motorway stations.
Waitrose sales are growing faster than those of its rivals. Total sales increased 12% in the first of the year, and up 25% over the past two years.
The supermarket recently restructured its senior management team, moving its marketing function out of the commercial division and promoting director of marketing Rupert Thomas to the Waitrose management board.
