Waitrose has opened the doors of a new convenience store in The Arches, Bristol, marking the latest milestone in its £1bn, multi-year investment programme in its store estate, which includes refurbishments and more sites.
At just under 3,000 sq ft, the new Little Waitrose shop offers more than 3,400 own-label and branded products. Local customers can also order home delivery from the store using Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat, as well as pick up John Lewis and Waitrose Entertaining orders.
Branch Manager, Tom Blyth, commented: “It’s fantastic to be part of such a significant nationwide investment. My team and I have been busy getting everything ready to welcome customers to their brand new shop. They’ll discover our great range of quality products on offer, as well as convenient delivery and pick up options, capped by the excellent service the Partnership is famous for.”
Waitrose recently confirmed further investment in the Bristol area, with the development of its first distribution centre in the region. The 360,000 sq. ft. site at Mountpark’s Bristol 360 is scheduled to open towards the end of 2026. It has been designed to deliver to around 50 current Waitrose shops, with the capacity to accommodate more.
The following year will see Waitrose open its first new full-line supermarket for seven years in Brabazon, a new town on the northern edge of Bristol. The 30,000 sq. ft. store will join The Arches, Clifton and Westbury Park shops in the area.
NAM Implications:
- Waitrose has patently seen the need to take Bristol more seriously.
- Adding retail and distribution capacity, with more to come.
- Suppliers wishing to fill in likewise…
- …might find it easier to climb aboard now…
- …than try to play catch-up later?
