Waitrose expands North West portfolio
Food retailer Waitrose has confirmed it will be opening convenience stores in Manchester city centre and Knutsford in Cheshire.
Waitrose has signed to a 3,000 sq ft store in Manchester House on Bridge Street in Spinningfields after agreeing a lease with developer Allied London for an undisclosed sum.
The food chain is also opening a 6,500 sq ft store in spring next year within Princess Street in Knutsford. Waitrose has taken over a long term lease of units previously occupied by Travelbag and Blockbusters.
Work will begin on converting the two units in October before the store opens on a date to be confirmed. Details of the rental agreement was not disclosed.
Jon Arnold, head of Waitrose convenience stores, said: "The announcements are a further indication of our long-standing and continued ambition to increase our presence in the North West. We are delighted to have the opportunity to bring the Waitrose brand to central Manchester for the first time and to be part of the growing investment the city consistently attracts.
"The Spinningfields development is an exciting venture and has quickly established itself as a premium destination for financial and professional services. Now it is building a growing reputation for retail, which we believe the quality of the Waitrose offer can help enhance."
YOU CAN HARDLY CLAIM TO BE EXPANDING YOUR PORTFOLIO INTO THE NORTH WEST WHEN THE FARTHEST NORTH NEW PROJECT IS MANCHESTER WHICH IS TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES NORTH MIDLANDS AND 65 MILES SOUTH OF WHERE I LIVE AND THAT PUTS ME SLAP BANG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NORTH WEST 65 MILES FROM MANCHESTER AND 65 FROM CARLISLE. THE NEAREST WEST IN THE NORTHERN AREA IS LEEDS AND THAT IS STILL 50 MILES AWAY AS INDEED IS HARROGATE. YOUR POPULARITY POLE WOULD HARDLY RECEIVE MAINY PLAUDITS FRON LANCASHIRE OR CUMBRIA. THERE SEEMS TO BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SMUGNESS IN YOUR ASSERTIONS OF SUCCESS IN THE POPULARITY POLES, PANDERING AS YOU DO TO THE SOUTHEAST, MIDLANDS AND LARGE OR SUPPOSEDLY WEALTHY CENTRES OF POPULATION SUCH AS NEWCASTLE, LEEDS, YORK, HARROGATE, ALTRINCHAM AND MANCHESTER. WINDERMERE (LANCASTER OUT-STATION), LANCASTER AND PRESTON ARE ALL UNIVERSTIY TOWNS AS INDEED IS CARLISLE WITH ITS CONNECTIONS TO NEWCASTLE AND DURHAM. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU CHECK YOUR GEOGRAPHY BEFORE MAKING ASSERTIONS ABOUT THE NORTH-WEST. YOURS BOB WALLACE.
By BOB WALLACE
You tell ’em Bob.
By scamp