High-class food retailer Waitrose has taken over the Co-operative store in the Locks Heath Centre.
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Locks Heath Co-operative store which is to become a Waitrose supermarket in February 2014
Waitrose, which is the food shop of John Lewis, has agreed with The Co-operative Group to acquire its shop at the Locks Heath Shopping Village in February 2014.
All 122 employees at the shop will be offered the opportunity to join Waitrose and become Partners in the John Lewis Partnership. Waitrose is also hoping to create additional jobs at the branch.
As Partners in the John Lewis Partnership they have a stake in the success of the business, a say in how it is run and a share in profits.
The Co-op branch will continue to trade as normal until 20th February next year. It will then close for approximately five weeks while the shop is transformed, before opening as a Waitrose in March 2014.
Waitrose will be launching its Community Matters and Partner Volunteering schemes in Locks Heath, which will see £12,000 and 250 hours donated to local causes nominated by customers each year.
Nigel Keen, Director of Development at Waitrose, said: “We have wanted to open a shop in Locks Heath for a long time and are looking forward to becoming part of the local community next year and welcoming the new employees to Waitrose and the John Lewis Partnership.”
Waitrose, like John Lewis, regularly price checks everyday items against competitors and the ‘essential Waitrose’ range offers more than 1,400 everyday shopping items at everyday, affordable prices.
Waitrose was named favourite supermarket in a customer satisfaction survey by Which? Magazine and top Food & Grocery Retailer in a poll of 6,000 shoppers by retail analysts Verdict Research.
