Waitrose is set to open two supermarkets on sites currently leased by Asda.
The upmarket retailer will open stores this autumn in Hale Barns, Manchester and Cricklewood in northwest London.
The Hale Barns site is currently trading as an Asda superstore while Cricklewood will be a newly developed site. Hale Barns has only been an Asda since 2024. The store was originally opened in 2015 as a Booths. It will undergo a full refit and reopen as a 15,000 sq ft Waitrose supermarket. Cricklewood is set to be developed as an 18,000 sq ft outlet.
The Asda staff at Hale Barns will transfer to Waitrose, which said it was also recruiting for additional roles at both sites.
“These two new shops are an important step in our plans to bring Waitrose to more customers,” said Waitrose retail director Tina Mitchell.
“We want to be in the places that matter most to our customers, offering the quality, service and convenience they expect from Waitrose, while continuing to invest in our existing shops and wider network.”
The additions will form part of Waitrose’s ongoing £1bn multi-year investment strategy. It transformed 23 stores in 2025 and is planning to have completed 28 refurbishments over the course of 2026.
It is also planning to open a new neighbourhood store in Chelmer Village in Essex this summer followed by a Little Waitrose in Ascot in autumn. A new southwest distribution centre is due to open next year with a new flagship supermarket earmarked for 2028 in Brabazon in Bristol.
No comments yet