Waitrose is set to expand its presence in Jersey after agreeing a partnership with Channel Island convenience store chain Alliance.
More than a thousand Waitrose products will start becoming available in Alliance’s four Jersey shops from March. This includes ready meals, free-from and vegan ranges, frozen products, prepared fruit and vegetables, meat, snacks and store cupboard staples, as well as flowers, beauty products and seasonal foods.
The deal with Alliance aims to complement the three Waitrose stores currently operating in Jersey.
Barry Delehanty, Head of Commercial Sales for Waitrose, said: “Alliance is a well-established local business whose values when it comes to quality and service mirror our own. Our partnership will allow us to provide even greater convenient access to Waitrose products for our Jersey customers.”
Andrew Bagot, Managing Director at Alliance, added: “Alliance is delighted to partner with Waitrose whose quality and provenance is second to none. Alliance is a fast-moving convenience retailer and the partnership with Waitrose will further enhance the choice and quality for our customers.”
The move comes just weeks after Waitrose linked up with Edinburgh and East Lothian convenience store chain, Margiotta, to grow its presence in Scotland. More than 600 Waitrose products began rolling out in Margiotta’s ten shops last month.
Waitrose has stated that it plans to explore more potential partnerships in the UK, which will allow it to reach more customers in areas where there is demand.
NAM Implications:
- Whilst the idea of potential incremental volume of their Waitrose business may appeal to suppliers…
- Worth considering what new insights may possibly flow back to their UK business for Waitrose?
- i.e. Having experimented with partners outside the UK…
- …how might Waitrose refine its spec re future UK potential partnerships?
