Waitrose has pushed into the Channel Islands after purchasing five supermarkets from SandpiperCI. 

The stores – three in Jersey and two in Guernsey – will provide over 130,000 sq ft of selling space. 

Following completion in October Sandpiper will operate the stores under license before handing them over to Waitrose early next year.
The stores will be Waitrose’s first in the Channel Islands though it has supplied Sandpiper’s Checker’s supermarket since 2008. 

“People in the Channel Islands have been telling us for years that they want a Waitrose. Our supply relationship with Sandpiper CI shows there’s strong demand for Waitrose quality food and I’m delighted that we will now be able to bring the full Waitrose offer to the Channel Islands,” said Waitrose MD Mark Price. 

Waitrose’s expansion was further boosted as Price confirmed plans to take Duchy Originals Stateside. Waitrose’s first foray in the US will begin in September, Price said at a retail summit this week. 

The Prince of Wales-founded Duchy brand, which was acquired by Waitrose in September 2009, would boost the retailer’s expansion into foreign markets, such as India and Asia, as well as the US, he said. 

“We think a range that’s supported by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, is organic, sustainable and top-of-the-range premium will have great resonance outside the UK,” Price told Reuters. 

Waitrose is already in 25 international markets and generates up to £60m in sales a year from these countries. Price plans to double this figure in the next two to three years. 

Read more
Sales increase for Channel Islands Co-op (22 May 2010)
Jersey set for arrival of new supermarket (03 April 2010)

Topics