UK | Waitrose has opened a brand-new 18,000 sq ft ‘Home of Food Lovers’ store in Cricklewood, North West London - the grocer’s first full-line supermarket opening in eight years.
The next Waitrose supermarket opening will be in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester, this November.
The grocer also announced it will acquire four new sites, underpinning its approach to having the right store in the right location.
The new sites will include a neighbourhood store in Oakham (Rutland) and three convenience stores in Bedminster (Bristol), Chalk Farm (London) and Springstead Village (Cambridge), opening from 2027.
Waitrose operates three main store types, with size, layout, and range tailored to local needs. Small convenience stores in busy urban areas focus on fresh top-up items and quick, on-the-go purchases.
Mid-size ‘neighbourhood’ stores in suburban areas carry over 6,500 products, making them ideal for everything from quick drop-ins to weekly shops. Larger supermarkets serve as destination stores with room to showcase the full breadth of the Waitrose range and concepts.
The announcements were part of Waitrose's GBP one billion multi-year investment plan, which includes expansion, store updates, and growth in its online and wholesale channels to provide the best customer experience.
The Cricklewood shop marked the next phase in rolling out Waitrose’s ‘Home of Food Lovers’ concept - first trialled in Newbury and now serving as the blueprint for new openings and refurbishments, adapted to suit each local community.
Central to the offering is Waitrose’s approach to quality, food integrity and animal welfare. Key features include dedicated meat, fish, and sushi counters; a dry-aged beef cabinet; hand-cut and speciality cheeses; an on-site bakery; a Fine & Rare wine selection; and a fruit and veg section championing organic, Fairtrade, and regeneratively farmed produce.
Behind the experience is a team of Partners who’ve completed extensive training to help customers discover what’s on offer. Partners in Beers, Wines & Spirits, Bakery and Counters have also completed additional training and qualifications through organisations including the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Guild of Fine Food and specialist suppliers such as Dovecote Park and Pilgrims.
The team includes 69 new Partners, joining 53 experienced team members as co-owners in the John Lewis Partnership. Three appointments were made through the Partnership’s Building Happier Futures programme, which delivers tailored support, job shadowing, and long-term career pathways for care-experienced young people.
Waitrose’s investment programme includes 29 store refurbishments this year alone. Alongside the four new store announcements, the grocer continues work on previously announced sites - a convenience store in Ascot (Berkshire) and a 30,000 sq ft shop in Brabazon (Bristol).
To support existing stores and unlock further growth, Waitrose will open its first South West distribution centre in Avonmouth early next year.
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