Upmarket food store Waitrose is moving into Manchester city centre.
The supermarket chain, which is the food outlet of the John Lewis Partnership, has confirmed that it will open a store close to Spinningfields in November.
A total of 40 jobs will be created and bosses for the store say recruitment will start immediately.
The chain, which opened its first supermarket in 1955 and is mainly associated with the south, said the move into Manchester signalled their determination to build up their reputation in the north west.
They already have stores in Wilmslow and Cheadle Hulme – and are to open a supermarket in Knutsford.
The chain also has a food section in Boots on Cross Street, which is set to continue.
Waitrose said the new store will be in Manchester House on Bridge Street and it is hoped they will attract people from Spinningfields.
Air of quality
Jon Arnold, from Waitrose, said he thought the shop would enhance the air of quality associated with Spinningfields financial and professional services.
He said: “The announcements are a further indication of our long-standing and continued ambition to increase our presence in the north west.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to bring the Waitrose brand to central Manchester for the first time and to be part of the growing investment the city consistently attracts.
“The Spinningfields development is an exciting venture and has quickly established itself as a premium destination for financial and professional services. Now it is building a growing reputation for retail, which we believe the quality of the Waitrose offer can help enhance.”
Waitrose spokesman James Armstrong said the store was opening partly in response to popular demand.
“You wouldn’t believe how many letters we get. Our managing director gets so many requests to move into Manchester from the general public.
“It’s a major investment for the business and we are confident it is going to be a success.”
The new store will concentrate on fresh food.
It forms part of a wider expansion into the north west, with the goal of opening 30 convenience stores in the next 10 years.
40 jobs on offer as Waitrose moves into Spinningfields
September 08, 2010
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Finally hopefully some decent interesting food in Manchester!
Yet the nearest one to Manchester is in Altrincham... and the MEN decides not to include it in the article!!!
Least it is not another Tescos!
Be thankful for small mercies!
There's one in Cheadle, which will deliver to south Manchester (well, it does to us in withington).
There is already a Waitrose in central Manchester, since they opened a concession in Boots on Market Street. Still, hopefully this will be much bigger and bring some life to the sterile Spinningfields area?
We need a waitrose in east manchester and other quality food outlets etc marks and spencers would be welcome as well .
What wrong with the 'FLIES R US' type of supermarkets where you can only buy a Bean in a can for fraction of the cost of these big brands. Many a day did mum swamp my Bean on Biscuit with flavoursome dad sauce. Ee Ya a bunch of snobs
This buiding was due to be pulled down as part of the ongoing development of Spinningfields by Allied London. So it looks like it's getting a reprieve.
The building that was to have taken it's place was a hotel.
Englisc Stanas, North Manchester
Why is it that pratts like you think people are "snobs" because they want a variety of shops rather than just a store full of cheap food.We shop in the local pound shops but if we want something of good quality we have to pay a little more in other stores does this make people a snob in your view.
Maybe if people bought quality rather than quantity we might not have a obese problem.
Don't think we need this or the dozens of Tesco extras around the city centre. Priority should be given to new businesses that actually diversify our city centre rather than the same repeated chains over and over again..
theres some already in manchester theres one on brigde street and one underneath the large boots on market street and manchester has decent food!!! you just have to look