Latest news with #JohnLewisPartnership
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Waitrose announces new supermarket plans and store upgrades in huge expansion
Waitrose is set to open its first full-size supermarket in seven years as part of a multi-million-pound expansion plan. The new 30,000 square foot store, located in Brabazon, a new town in North Bristol, is anticipated to open its doors in 2027. The move follows a multi-million-pound agreement by parent company the John Lewis Partnership, signalling a renewed focus on larger retail formats. Developed in partnership with YTL Developments, the new supermarket is expected to create approximately 150 jobs in the area. This development represents Waitrose 's first full-line supermarket opening since before the Covid -19 pandemic, during which its expansion primarily focused on convenience and smaller franchise stores. The retailer has continued to grow its footprint through these smaller formats, including a new convenience store planned for The Arches in Bristol, and recently opened franchised outlets with Welcome Break in Spaldwick, Cambridgeshire, and Rotherham. A convenience store in Southwick, West Sussex, also recently commenced trading. Further expansion is slated for later this summer, with two more Welcome Break stores set to open in Hickling, Leicestershire, and Newark, Nottinghamshire. The opening is part of plans to invest £1 billion into new stores and improvements to 150 existing stores over the next three years. James Bailey, managing director for Waitrose, said: 'We are moving up a gear in store investment as we open in new locations and modernise our existing estate to bring the quality, service and value that customers love about Waitrose closer to more people. 'Brabazon is one of the most exciting new city districts in the UK, driving the growth of one of the UK's most vibrant and successful regional economies. 'Partnering with YTL Developments at Brabazon underlines our ambition and the opportunity we believe we have to grow our reach.' The store will be in Brabazon, a new neighbourhood in Bristol being built on the former Filton Airfield, where every UK Concorde was built. Seb Loyn, planning and development director at YTL, said: 'The arrival of Waitrose in 2027 is not only great news for the thriving community of new residents at Brabazon. 'It shows that this new city district is now firmly established as one of the most attractive destinations for both homebuyers and commercial investment in the South West.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Waitrose steps up expansion with first new supermarket for seven years
Waitrose has revealed plans to open its first full-size supermarket for seven years. Parent group the John Lewis Partnership said it has agreed a multi-million-pound deal to expand the supermarket arm further. The new store is expected to open in Brabazon, a new town in North Bristol, in 2027. The 30,000 square foot store, which is being developed in partnership with YTL Developments, is set to create around 150 jobs. It will be the retailer's first full-line supermarket opening since before the Covid pandemic, although it has expanded over the period through convenience and smaller franchise stores. Waitrose is also set to open a new convenience store in The Arches in Bristol and has recently opened franchised stores with Welcome Break in Spaldwick, Cambridgeshire and Rotherham, and a convenience store in Southwick, West Sussex. It will open two more Welcome Break stores in Hickling, Leicestershire and Newark, Nottinghamshire, later this summer. The opening is part of plans to invest £1 billion into new stores and improvements to 150 existing stores over the next three years. James Bailey, managing director for Waitrose, said: 'We are moving up a gear in store investment as we open in new locations and modernise our existing estate to bring the quality, service and value that customers love about Waitrose closer to more people. 'Brabazon is one of the most exciting new city districts in the UK, driving the growth of one of the UK's most vibrant and successful regional economies. 'Partnering with YTL Developments at Brabazon underlines our ambition and the opportunity we believe we have to grow our reach.' The store will be in Brabazon, a new neighbourhood in Bristol being built on the former Filton Airfield, where every UK Concorde was built. Seb Loyn, planning and development director at YTL, said: 'The arrival of Waitrose in 2027 is not only great news for the thriving community of new residents at Brabazon. 'It shows that this new city district is now firmly established as one of the most attractive destinations for both homebuyers and commercial investment in the South West.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Waitrose steps up expansion with first new supermarket for seven years
Waitrose has revealed plans to open its first full-size supermarket for seven years. Parent group the John Lewis Partnership said it has agreed a multi-million-pound deal to expand the supermarket arm further. The new store is expected to open in Brabazon, a new town in North Bristol, in 2027. The 30,000 square foot store, which is being developed in partnership with YTL Developments, is set to create around 150 jobs. It will be the retailer's first full-line supermarket opening since before the Covid pandemic, although it has expanded over the period through convenience and smaller franchise stores. Waitrose is also set to open a new convenience store in The Arches in Bristol and has recently opened franchised stores with Welcome Break in Spaldwick, Cambridgeshire and Rotherham, and a convenience store in Southwick, West Sussex. It will open two more Welcome Break stores in Hickling, Leicestershire and Newark, Nottinghamshire, later this summer. The opening is part of plans to invest £1 billion into new stores and improvements to 150 existing stores over the next three years. James Bailey, managing director for Waitrose, said: 'We are moving up a gear in store investment as we open in new locations and modernise our existing estate to bring the quality, service and value that customers love about Waitrose closer to more people. 'Brabazon is one of the most exciting new city districts in the UK, driving the growth of one of the UK's most vibrant and successful regional economies. 'Partnering with YTL Developments at Brabazon underlines our ambition and the opportunity we believe we have to grow our reach.' The store will be in Brabazon, a new neighbourhood in Bristol being built on the former Filton Airfield, where every UK Concorde was built. Seb Loyn, planning and development director at YTL, said: 'The arrival of Waitrose in 2027 is not only great news for the thriving community of new residents at Brabazon. 'It shows that this new city district is now firmly established as one of the most attractive destinations for both homebuyers and commercial investment in the South West.'
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
John Lewis orders staff back to the office as it strips back perks
John Lewis has ordered staff back to the office for at least three days a week amid a wider shake-up of the benefits it offers workers. The partnership said staff in its commercial team, including buyers and merchandisers, will be required in the office just months after it scrapped lifetime perks for long-serving employees, and workers were denied a bonus for the third year running. Staff have been told that they must either be in the office, in stores or out meeting brands or suppliers three days a week from July. John Lewis generally has a hybrid working policy where staff regularly speak to managers to determine their work patterns. The change is understood to have been introduced as John Lewis seeks to improve the look of its department stores as part of a wider turnaround. A spokesman said: 'Flexible working is an important part of our offer; everyone in our business can request to work flexibly, and most central office Partners have hybrid working arrangements in place. 'A collaborative culture is critical to help create the best product ranges and store environment for our customers and we're taking steps to encourage team members to spend time together in our offices, our stores, meeting brands and suppliers, and balancing this with working remotely. 'We've also recruited around 50 new team members to help spearhead our range development and store modernisation – and their training and development is vital to set us up for success.' Last month, The Telegraph revealed that John Lewis will no longer offer lifetime discount cards for retirees. Instead, staff who leave after more than 15 years will be entitled to discount cards and access to partnership hotels equal to their years of service. This would mean that, in practice, someone retiring at 65 after 16 years working for the partnership would be entitled to the perks until they are 81. John Lewis has said the changes will enable it to more than double the number of partners who are eligible. At the same time, the company has been facing mounting pressure to restore its staff bonus, which it axed to focus on improving stores and boosting pay rates. Recently, a petition on the campaign website Organise gained more than 4,000 signatures from workers past and present demanding the bonus be reinstated. Last year marked the third consecutive year that staff did not receive their partnership bonus, and only the fourth time since 1953. At the time, a spokesman for John Lewis said: 'Our partners understand that we're focused on improving their base pay and investing to create a sustainable business. 'Our bonus remains an important feature of our employee-owned model, and we confirmed in March that we're determined to reinstate it as quickly as possible. We're proud of our unique benefits package and we want to do even more to recognise our brilliant partners.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
John Lewis orders staff back to the office as it strips back perks
John Lewis has ordered staff back to the office for at least three days a week amid a wider shake-up of the benefits it offers workers. The partnership said staff in its commercial team, including buyers and merchandisers, will be required in the office just months after it scrapped lifetime perks for long-serving employees, and workers were denied a bonus for the third year running. Staff have been told that they must either be in the office, in stores or out meeting brands or suppliers three days a week from July. John Lewis generally has a hybrid working policy where staff regularly speak to managers to determine their work patterns. The change is understood to have been introduced as John Lewis seeks to improve the look of its department stores as part of a wider turnaround. A spokesman said: 'Flexible working is an important part of our offer; everyone in our business can request to work flexibly, and most central office Partners have hybrid working arrangements in place. 'A collaborative culture is critical to help create the best product ranges and store environment for our customers and we're taking steps to encourage team members to spend time together in our offices, our stores, meeting brands and suppliers, and balancing this with working remotely. 'We've also recruited around 50 new team members to help spearhead our range development and store modernisation – and their training and development is vital to set us up for success.' Last month, The Telegraph revealed that John Lewis will no longer offer lifetime discount cards for retirees. Instead, staff who leave after more than 15 years will be entitled to discount cards and access to partnership hotels equal to their years of service. This would mean that, in practice, someone retiring at 65 after 16 years working for the partnership would be entitled to the perks until they are 81. John Lewis has said the changes will enable it to more than double the number of partners who are eligible. At the same time, the company has been facing mounting pressure to restore its staff bonus, which it axed to focus on improving stores and boosting pay rates. Recently, a petition on the campaign website Organise gained more than 4,000 signatures from workers past and present demanding the bonus be reinstated. Last year marked the third consecutive year that staff did not receive their partnership bonus, and only the fourth time since 1953. At the time, a spokesman for John Lewis said: 'Our partners understand that we're focused on improving their base pay and investing to create a sustainable business. 'Our bonus remains an important feature of our employee-owned model, and we confirmed in March that we're determined to reinstate it as quickly as possible. We're proud of our unique benefits package and we want to do even more to recognise our brilliant partners.' Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
