Waitrose is planning to launch into the convenience store sector early next year, competing head to head with Marks & Spencer Simply Foods, Sainsbury’s Local and Tesco Express.
According to The Independent newspaper Waitrose has hired consultant Anthony Wysome, a former senior project manager at Waitrose as head of convenience.
A Waitrose spokesman said it hoped to trial a shop within six to nine months.
The convenience stores are likely to be between 3,000 and 4,000sq ft.
The news follows Waitrose’s move into market towns earlier this year with a medium sized format championing local produce.
