Little Waitrose John Lewis Partnership food convenience store, city centre Manchester, England UK

Announcing its foray into the convenience sector in July 2008, Waitrose opened its first convenience store in Nottingham in December of that year. In September 2009, it was announced that a large-scale roll-out of the concept was planned, opening up to 300 stores in 5 to 10 years. The new arm will operate in a two-tier environment, with the majority of sites expected to trade from 2, 500–3, 000 sq ft and some trading from a larger 5, 000–7, 000 sq ft floor plate. A trial of a 'little Waitrose' fascia on smaller floor plate stores may yet lead to brand differentiation of some or all of the convenience estate. As of 1 February 2012 there were 29 little Waitrose convenience stores