Waitrose opens first new supermarket in eight years in North London
Waitrose has opened its first new supermarket in eight years in Cricklewood, North London, as the retailer confirms plans for four more new stores.
The opening of the retailer’s 18,000 sq ft ‘Home of Food Lovers’ store is its first full-line supermarket launch since 2018 and will be followed by the opening of a Waitrose supermarket in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester in November.
In addition, Waitrose has acquired four sites for new stores, all of which are set to open from 2027. These comprise a new neighbourhood store in Oakham (Rutland) and three new convenience stores in Bedminster (Bristol), Chalk Farm (London), and Springstead Village (Cambridge).
The announcements form part of Waitrose’s £1bn multi-year investment plan, which includes expansion, store updates, and the growth of its online and wholesale channels.
Tina Mitchell, retail director at Waitrose, said: “Our supermarkets provide the ultimate showcase for everything that sets Waitrose apart – from our unmatched quality and industry-leading welfare standards to the expert service of our partners.
“Opening Cricklewood as our first new full-line supermarket in eight years marks an important step in bringing Waitrose closer to more communities. We continue to invest in the right shops in the right locations alongside delivering the experience customers expect from Waitrose through our online offering and wider network.”
Waitrose’s investment programme includes 29 store refurbishments this year alone, and alongside today’s four new store announcements, the retailer is continuing to work on previously announced sites – a convenience store in Ascot, Berkshire, and a 30,000 sq ft shop in Brabazon in Bristol.