LONDON’S CROUCH END SEES FIRST WAITROSE CONVENIENCE STORE
Opening marks start of supermarket’s goal to ramp up presence in sector
Waitrose has just opened its first convenience store in the Capital, marking the beginning of the supermarket’s plans to dramatically increase its presence in this sector.
The opening of Waitrose Crouch End follows the retailer’s recent announcement that it aims to open 300 convenience shops in the UK over the next 10 years.
The former Woolworths store at 35-39 Broadway will offer something unique within the convenience market place, building on the brand’s reputation for quality produce and excellent customer service.
At 6,230sq ft, it will be smaller than the supermarket’s traditional format shops, but this will not stop it offering a wide range of fresh food, including a cheese and traiteur service counter and freshly baked bread. It will also be the first Waitrose convenience store to sell a selection of Kosher food.
The shop will feature a ‘time of day’ counter with a changing offer of meals throughout the day, including cereals and yoghurts in the morning, baguettes and salads at lunch, fresh scones and cakes for afternoon tea and dinner options like sausage and mash or Chinese takeaway.
There will be a range of time saving services available, including Waitrose Delivery Service, which lets customers complete their shop and have it delivered to their door at a time that suits – perfect for those shopping whilst on their lunch break.
All 70 Partners, as Waitrose employees are known, have taken part in extensive training in preparation for the opening. During the first two weeks they will be acting as ‘green’ ambassadors for the food chain by giving away 35,000 ‘Bags for Life’, worth a total of £3,500. This is designed to encourage customers to re-use their carrier bags rather than depending on single use bags, and will be given out at the checkout for shoppers to pack their purchases with.
Waitrose Crouch End Manager, Steve Hart, said: “We’re delighted to be opening our first convenience store in the capital, as we embark on a very exciting time at Waitrose which will see us extend this retail format to shoppers all over the country.
“Crouch End and Waitrose are the perfect match – it is the ideal location for us as there is a real passion for quality food here. We’re really looking forward to bringing our offer to this part of London for the first time, and working closely with other retailers in the area and the local community.”
“Customers will be surprised about how much of the Waitrose offer we fit into a shop of this size. We believe you shouldn’t have to compromise on the standard of your shopping experience, or of the service offered, just because a store is smaller and designed for convenience.”
On opening, the branch will launch ‘Community Matters’, the scheme which will see it donate £6,000 a year to 36 local good causes. The branch will be encouraging customers to nominate the causes that they feel make a real difference within the local community.
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