Grocery retailers are constantly looking to create customer appetite for visiting larger supermarkets and Waitrose is the latest to get its teeth into that challenge.
The upmarket grocer has unveiled its newest format on London’s Whitecross Street, which plays to consumers’ growing hunger for foodservice.
The main course, ‘The Kitchen’ – offering freshly cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner – has been served up with healthy sides from new-look butcher and fishmonger counters.
Boss Rob Collins, who has redirected investment from opening new stores into refurbishing existing ones, says the aim of the new format is to create “a convenient pleasure for people.”
The likes of Sainsbury’s are creating ‘supermarkets of the future’ in different ways, bringing other brand names like Argos and Habitat into play in order to drive sales and footfall.
But one thing’s for sure, Waitrose’s rejuvenated store will give its grocery rivals plenty of food for thought as supermarkets continue to be reimagined.
On the subject of Waitrose’s rivals, Lidl’s plans to build a new London headquarters have moved a step closer today, while former Tesco exec Kevin Grace will not face charges in relation to the grocer’s accounting scandal.
Quote of the day
“Although many forecasts believe growth will slow next year, organisations themselves have a relatively bright outlook and are prepared to invest over the coming 12 months”
CEBR director Scott Corfe
Today in numbers
£70m
The amount Lidl is poised to spend on its new head office in Tolworth
111.1
The level of business confidence in November, according YouGov and the Centre of Economics and Business Research’s latest index, having risen two points last month
Monday’s agenda
With no financial updates due on Monday, check out our video interview with Sainsbury’s Argos boss John Rogers, as we join him on a Fast Track delivery round.
Luke Tugby, deputy news editor
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