Waitrose considers high street cafes

Waitrose has indicated that it may consider opening high street cafés if its in-store café concept proves successful. The retailer is also considering moving in on struggling chain Iceland.

Speaking at the British Retail Consortium’s symposium last week, Waitrose’s managing director, Mark Price, said that plans were in place to open cafés in one-third of the retailer’s stores around the country before the end of the year.

If the move proves successful, “then there should be no reason why you can’t break it out of the shops and have it as a standalone,” he said.

The multiple grocer is also said to be considering buying a number of Iceland stores that are being sold off by failed Icelandic bank, Landsbanki.

Landsbanki is apparently offering a 67% share in the chain but Price made it clear that although interested, Waitrose would not be entering any deals as a major partner.

“I think whoever gets it we’d be happy to work with, if the shops fitted our demographic. But we wouldn’t go in on the basis we’d be the major party,” he said.

Rupert Millar, 13.06.2011