Waitrose has revealed plans for aggressive expansion across the UK over the next ten years.

MD Steven Esom told The Grocer he planned to double the number of Waitrose supermarkets available to shoppers in the next decade - a move that would boost its portfolio to just under 400 stores.

This would be achieved through an active store-opening programme and new builds and acquisitions, Esom said.

"This year we have already opened a record amount of new space, with all new sites trading extremely well," he added.

The retailer was set to open three new branches in Cheadle Hulme, Windsor and Rickmansworth in the coming months, he said. Scotland would continue to be a key area of focus, with sites earmarked for opening in Glasgow and other major Scottish towns.

"We have a long-term plan for expansion in Scotland and we hope to gain a reasonable market share north of the border in coming years," said Esom.

He was speaking as Waitrose recorded a strong set of trading results for the full year to 27 January, with profits up 5% to £244m on sales up 11% to £3.7bn.

He said the trend for shoppers increasingly to prioritise quality over price, coupled with Waitrose's reputation for excellent customer service, was contributing to the growth - as were maturing sales at former Safeway and Somerfield branches acquired in 2004 and 2005.

The retailer, whose online arm Waitrose Deliver claimed The Grocer 33 Online Star Order award last month, was also voted the UK's favourite retailer in a survey by Verdict Research. It is the second year in a row that Waitrose has taken first place in the Verdict survey of 69 high street names. Waitrose was ranked first in three categories - quality, layout and ambience.

n Sales at Ocado, which is 29%-owned by the John Lewis Partnership, were up 60% year-on-year in the week before Christmas.

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