April 13, 2016
Opus Land and RG Group (as build contractor) are developing a 52,000 sq ft supermarket to be let to Waitrose for a 20 year term. Practical completion is anticipated on 15th April 2016 and following an extensive fit out the planned date for the store opening is 30th June 2016.
Opus Land are an experienced developer with offices in the West Midlands and London who have delivered several important projects including another Waitrose in Solihull and others in the industrial, warehouse, office and retail sectors. RG Group specialise in the retail, student accommodation and commercial sectors of the construction industry. They have just celebrated 25 years in business in which they employ 150 people. Based in West Malling, Kent and Leeds this privately owned company has a financial turnover of close to £200m. 40 jobs have been created during the construction process of the Worcester store.
The Worcester site extends to an area of 4.6 acres and is located in an important strategic position in close proximity to junction 7 of the M5 motorway and acts as a gateway to the historic cathedral city of Worcester. As the county town Worcester is the main centre within Worcestershire for administrative services, jobs, shopping and tourism with a population of 93,300 where trade and commerce have been in existence since Roman times.
Waitrose is part of the John Lewis Partnership who are employee owned and operate from 346 supermarkets. Over the important six week trading period at Christmas they recorded a drop of like-to-like sales of 1.4% due to the fierce price war competition from other grocers, especially the discounters Aldi and Lidl. Other factors include the deflationary fall I n food prices and a change in shopping habits where people are leaving their shopping until the last minute. Despite this, operating profits was up 0.6% to £135.5m with continued growth in customer numbers up by 7% and an 18% increase in active My Waitrose card holders. Trading conditions on 23rd and 24th December 2015 broke all previous records.
Waitrose has always prided itself on quality and customers continue to treat themselves to luxury items while enjoying the service and experience they provide in an innovative shop format, including wine bars and other attractions. Waitrose was awarded best food and grocer retailer in 2015 Verdict customer satisfaction awards and favourite supermarket in the ‘Which’ 2015 customer survey.
The Worcester store will feature a range of John Lewis goods, a coffee shop with outside seating and 285 parking spaces. It is nearly double the size of the Waitrose store in Malvern indicating the confidence placed by the partnership in London Road, Worcester.