AS PROGRESS is being made towards an October opening for a new Waitrose at the former MFI store in York, the supermarket chain is looking for sites regionally for yet more stores.

Suburban and city-centre sites are being sought throughout North Yorkshire and the north-east for a roll- out of new Waitrose convenience stores, creating hundreds more new jobs.

Retail specialists at property consultancy King Sturge has been appointed to handle site identification and acquisition for Waitrose which aims to launch its new convenience stores in the north as part of a move to open 30 new stores throughout the UK next year.

The first new-format Waitrose convenience store opened in Cambridgeshire this spring, creating about 40 new jobs. A further five have followed since, with the most recent opening in Cheam last month.

The sites, for stores with sales areas of between 3,000 and 7,000 sq ft or 4,000 and 10,000 sq ft gross, in city and town centres, transport hubs and suburbs, are being sought by King Sturges’ In-Town Retail Team.

Already the team has several Yorkshire sites under consideration.

Jonathan Newns, head of the team and a partner, said: “Waitrose’s move into smaller stores demonstrates that convenience shopping is a growing market.

“Today’s busy lifestyles mean that customers want choice and access to food shopping on their doorstep. The convenience stores which open in the north will help to create easier access to wider choice of quality products which is good news for shoppers.

“From a property point of view, the smaller format stores should be easier to accommodate as they allow for greater flexibility in the size of retail unit and location, and should encounter fewer potential planning hurdles.” Research based on shopping patterns at Waitrose’s existing convenience shops shows that customers generally use them to buy everything they need for the next 24 hours.

The new stores will focus on freshly-baked bread, sandwiches, salads, deli products and individually-wrapped cakes; quick meals, fresh meat and fish as well as other household items such as health and beauty goods, cleaning products and cards and gift wrapping.

The Waitrose supermarket in Foss Islands Road, York, will eventually create 180 jobs. Work continues on a £5 million upgrade of the former MFI building, which will incorporate the latest green technology, including recharging points in the car park for electric-powered vehicles.