Waitrose has been given the go-ahead to expand its Scottish store portfolio with a new supermarket in East Renfrewshire.
Plans for the country’s first purpose-built Waitrose store in the Newton Mearns suburb of Glasgow have been approved by councillors.
The 25,000-sq-ft grocery outlet will become the largest Waitrose store in Scotland when it opens to shoppers in early 2011, and will also help boost employment in the area with the creation of 200 jobs .
Waitrose has been operating in the Scottish market since 2006 and currently has stores at Byres Road in Glasgow and Comely Bank and Morningside in Edinburgh .
Last summer the John Lewis-owned retailer said up to 25 stores could be opened in various locations around Scotland by 2014.
Waitrose managing director Mark Price said: “Waitrose Newton Mearns represents our first new build store in Scotland and demonstrates our ambition to make our brand more accessible to more Scottish consumers.”
“The new store will provide a boost to the local economy through the creation of up to 200 jobs, and allow us to invest further with farmers and suppliers in the west of Scotland and beyond.”
A spokesman for the retailer added: “Waitrose is committed to building its presence in Scotland and Newton Mearns is another exciting step forward in achieving our long-term aspirations here.”
