With the launch of its first online store dedicated to customers in the country, British supermarket chain Waitrose has entered the growing eCommerce market in the UAE and plans to open two more physical shops.
The eCommerce website of Waitrose in the UAE offers over 15,000 grocery items with at least 2,800 delivery slots available every week. This comes after last month, the UK retailer opened its sixth outlet in Dubai.
In a statement, the company said it also plans to open two more stores in Jumeirah Golf Estates and Meadows Fountain’s View in the city by the end of the year.
In a trial that aims to bring food to British homes in as little as 30 minutes, the supermarket, which aims to become a $1.3 billion business by the end of the year, had recently announced a new delivery tie-up with Deliveroo for its customers in the UK.
The grocery chain aims to provide its e-commerce service to more than 1,500 homes across Dubai and Abu Dhabi every week with same-day delivery options.
The online foray is undertaken in collaboration with Fine Fare Foods, which manages the regular operations of the retailer in the UAE. Customer orders will be collected and packaged across Dubai and Abu Dhabi in two of the retailer’s 12 stores.
“Our eCommerce service has grown significantly in the UK and we’re very excited to work with our partners in Fine Fare Foods Limited to extend this to our customers in the United Arab Emirates. It brings an even more convenient way for our customers in the UAE to shop Waitrose products,” said Sarah Burton, business manager for commercial sales at Waitrose.
