Waitrose has identified 60 stores where it will introduce the revamped non-food area it debuted in its Meanwood supermarket in Leeds earlier this month.
The non-food offer at Meanwood, which includes homewares, toys, a Boots health and beauty area, and a refreshed cafe that uses the same crockery as that sold in the store covers about 8,000 sq ft in the 30,000 sq ft store.
Managing director Mark Price said: “We believe there are 60 stores where we could roll out this non-food area, all varying in size.”
Price said Waitrose’s non-food business currently accounted for less than 5% of its turnover. He added: “There is definitely scope to build on this but we will always be a food-focused retailer and won’t go for as much non-food space as the other big grocers.”
He said Waitrose would not seek larger stores than its biggest format of 50,000 sq ft, with the exception of its 75,000 sq ft Canary Wharf store in London.
The non-food mix includes one third John Lewis branded products, one third items sourced with John Lewis and one third Waitrose sourced. Waitrose will also roll out click-and-collect, allowing customers to pick up John Lewis products from its stores.
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