UK | Waitrose has welcomed the first customers to its brand new store at Chelmer Village Retail Park in Essex.
The highly anticipated opening marked the latest milestone in the supermarket’s UK-wide GBP one billion investment programme. The shop's opening has created 39 new local jobs.
At 7,000 sq ft, the new Waitrose Chelmer Village shop has been designed for accessibility and inspiration with more than 6,500 products available. Key highlights of the new store include:
- Waitrose Own Brand Ranges: A curated range of the food lovers’ favourite, Waitrose No.1
- Customers can also explore Essential Waitrose, the great-value range that doesn’t compromise on quality, taste, or animal welfare, and Waitrose Duchy Organic, kinder farming, better animal welfare, and no pesticides across a wide range of categories.
- Artisan Bakery: A fully stocked, fresh-in-store bakery offering breads, pastries, and sweet treats.
- Expansive Drinks Selection: A curated range of award-winning wines, and in response to demand for lower alcohol drinks, an expanded range of low and no alcohol wines and beers.
- Click & Collect and Delivery: Free on-site parking makes it easy for customers to pick up John Lewis and Waitrose Entertaining orders, while rapid home delivery via Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat is also available.
- The Food Lovers’ Club: My Waitrose members can enjoy a host of benefits, including personalised offers, free hot drinks and products and 20 percent off selected fish counter products.
The store will also donate GBP 12,000 annually to support local charities through Waitrose’s Community Matters programme.
Heading up the new store is Branch Manager and Essex local, Richard Upton, who has brought 17 years of experience within the John Lewis Partnership, most recently as Branch Manager of Little Waitrose Cambridge Fitzroy Street.
Working alongside him, the Waitrose Chelmer Village team includes 39 new local hires and eight experienced Partners.
“We've wanted to expand Waitrose in Essex and bring our fantastic quality products to even more Food Lovers in the area. We are delighted by the excitement around the shop, and I want to thank everyone for their patience while we transformed the site. It’s great to open our doors and become part of the community," said Upton.
"Launching a new store is a career highlight, and all the Partners are ready and waiting to deliver the brilliant service we're known for. We can't wait to show everyone around their brand new Waitrose."
The new store in Chelmer Village has bridged a gap in Waitrose’s Essex estate, sitting between seven established Waitrose supermarkets and three Little Waitrose at Shell sites.
The Partnership has confirmed its commitment to Essex, with upgrades planned for Waitrose Southend-on-Sea and Waitrose Upminster, alongside the 90,000 sq ft John Lewis department store in central Chelmsford, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this September.
More global news here
