Supermarket group Waitrose is planning a store expansion programme in the hope of doubling sales to £8bn over the next decade. Sunday Times
Mark Price, its new managing director, is preparing to expand the retailer organically after several years in which it has grown rapidly through acquisitions.
The group is to review sales operations and formats of its 183 shops and there is speculation that this could lead to it launching a convenience store chain, and new Waitrose food and home outlets.
It has grown from 116 stores in 2000 to 165 four years later.
Price said: 'We recognise that there are 6 million people who want to buy from Waitrose but do not have access to a store, so we will be looking at our options.'
Price took the helm at Waitrose last week after Steve Esom left to lead Marks & Spencer’s food division.