Waitrose will open its first small convenience store this summer in Cambridge, Retail Week can reveal.

The 3,000 sq ft store will be the first of four trials planned for the new format this year. All stores will be between 2,000 sq ft and 4,000 sq ft.

The grocer has already opened five larger-format convenience shops, such as in Trinity Square in Nottingham, all of which measure between 5,000 sq ft and 7,000 sq ft.

The Cambridge shop, on Fitzroy Street, will focus on three key areas - food to eat now and food to go, including sandwiches, salads and deli products; food to take home and eat later, such as its Menu From range and fresh meat and fish; and everyday items such as health and beauty, cleaning products and cards.

The store is formed of two merged units previously occupied by The Pier and Professional Cookware.

Waitrose, which reported operating profit, excluding property gains, up 26.8% to £268.2m in the year to January 30, wants 300 convenience stores - large and small - in the next 10 years.

Topics