Waitrose’s new motorway services store to create 20 jobs

It is one of six new Waitrose stores being opened at Welcome Break sites across the country over the next few months.

The shop means Waitrose will operate from 25 Welcome Break sites.

It will be open 365 days a year, from 7am until 10pm and offer a choice of more than 1,800 Waitrose products, including convenience foods such as sandwiches, snacks and drinks and a growing number of everyday groceries including milk, bread and eggs.

It will also sell dinner items like ready meals and prepared fresh fruit and vegetables, which have had a strong response from shoppers at the existing Waitrose shops at Welcome Break sites.

A spokeswoman for Welcome Break said feedback shows that customers really enjoy the convenience of being able to pick up quality food and drink for later, while on-the-go.

All non-management employees at the shop will become partners or co-owners in the John Lewis Partnership.

This will entitle them to a say in how the business is run and a share in the retailer’s annual profits.

Last year saw all existing employees receive 17 per cent of their annual wage in bonus.

Rod Mckie, chief executive of Welcome Break, said: “The relationship between Welcome Break and Waitrose continues to go from strength to strength, and this new store at our Hartshead Moor services on the westbound carriageway of the M62 is just the latest in our ongoing expansion plan, creating a total of 20 jobs for the local community.

“The Waitrose stores we have opened at our other sites in the North have proved incredibly popular, and we believe this new store will also become a real customer favourite.”

Founded in 1959, Welcome Break attracts 80m motorway customers a year to its 27 sites. The group employs 4,500 people.

A consortium of banks led by NIBC bought Welcome Break for a reported £500m in 2008.

David Morton, business to business director at Waitrose, said: “Our partnership with Welcome Break has proved very successful so far, and we’ve received great feedback from our customers.”