- Cricklewood opens today as Waitrose’s first supermarket launch in eight years; Hale Barns in Greater Manchester to follow in November
- Expansion includes newly acquired sites in Bedminster, Chalk Farm, Oakham, and Springstead Village, alongside ongoing developments in Ascot and Brabazon
- Underpinned by £1bn investment programme which also includes 29 store refurbishments in 2026
Waitrose today opens 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.
Today the grocer has also announced the acquisition of four new sites which underpin its approach to having the right store in the right location. Joining the two new supermarkets will be a new neighbourhood store in Oakham (Rutland) and three new convenience stores in Bedminster (Bristol), Chalk Farm (London) and Springstead Village (Cambridge) which will open from 2027.
Waitrose operates three main types of store with the size, layout and ranging 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 form part of Waitrose’s £1 billion multi-year investment plan, which includes expansion, store updates and the growth of its online and wholesale channels, to provide the best experience for customers.
Waitrose Cricklewood
The Cricklewood shop marks 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, dry-aged beef cabinet, hand-cut and speciality cheeses, on-site bakery, 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 who join 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.
Tina Mitchell, Waitrose Retail Director, said: “Our supermarkets provide the ultimate showcase for everything that sets Waitrose apart – from our unmatched quality and industry-leading welfare standards to the expert service of our Partners.
“Opening Cricklewood as our first new full-line supermarket in eight years marks an important step in bringing Waitrose closer to more communities. We continue to invest in the right shops in the right locations alongside delivering the experience customers expect from Waitrose through our online offering and wider network.”
Nationwide investment
Waitrose’s investment programme includes 29 store refurbishments this year alone and alongside today’s 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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