Waitrose Planning To Open More ‘Neighbourhood’ Stores To Combat M&S
Source: Brian Moore, Linkedin post, 29th July 2026
Waitrose is planning to open more of its mid-sized ‘neighbourhood’ format stores in commuter towns and suburbs in a bid to broaden its appeal and challenge fast-growing rival M&S Food.
As part of its current £1bn investment programme, the upmarket retailer plans to introduce more of the stores that are around 7,000 sq. ft., sitting between its regular supermarkets and smaller Little Waitrose convenience stores.
The format stocks around 6,500 products, compared to over 15,000 in larger Waitrose supermarkets, with a focus on fresh food, an expanded bakery offer, and more cooking products. The company noted it is designed to help “establish a trip to Waitrose as part of the weekly routine”.
Waitrose has already opened around 20 of the neighbourhood shops, with the latest launching at Chelmer Village Retail Park in Essex. Other locations include towns on the outskirts of London, such as Leatherhead and Oxted in Surrey, as well as towns including Bromsgrove and Knutsford, and the wealthy suburb of Jesmond, Newcastle.
The company is also investing in its entire estate of 320 stores as part of the multi-year investment programme. This year, it is refurbishing 28 stores, having completed 23 last year.
Two full-line Waitrose supermarkets are also scheduled to open in Hale Barns, Manchester, and Cricklewood, London, in the autumn, with another planned for Brabazon in Bristol.
Several new convenience outlets are also being opened, and Waitrose is continuing to scale its presence across major transport hubs. This includes four new RELAY shops opening this year at Heathrow Terminal 2, alongside existing partnerships with 35 Welcome Break sites and 107 Shell forecourts.
Tina Mitchell, Waitrose retail director, said: “As the ‘Home of Food Lovers,’ our growth is shaped by adapting to how our customers live and shop. Today’s consumers no longer rely on a single weekly trip to the supermarket; grocery shopping is an omnichannel experience.
“Backed by our multi-year £1bn investment plan, our ambition is to be wherever our customers want us. We are looking for high-footfall, ‘right size, right location’ sites nationwide to make it easier than ever for people to experience our uncompromising standards, quality and expert Partner service.”
NamNews Implications:
* Waitrose are on a roll.
* And investing appropriately.
* £1bn is not a whim-investment for Waitrose.
* Bound to evoke a response from M&S…
#Waitrose
