Waitrose, the food shops of the UK-based John Lewis Partnership, is to extend its presence overseas with the opening of its third branch in Abu Dhabi, bringing the total in the UAE to six.
The 6,600 sqft shop is located in Avenue at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi’s first standalone luxury shopping destination.
It will open under licence through the retailer’s partnership with Fine Fare Food Market (FFFM) and will employ 45 people, a statement said.
Employing over 500 people in the UAE alone Waitrose/FFFM said they continue to look for opportunities for expansion in the region.
A report last year said two thirds of British retailers (66 percent) expect their overseas sales to increase over the next five years and rank the Middle East fifth highest as their preferred future destination.
According to research from Barclays, the UAE (7.7 percent) and Egypt (2.6 percent) were listed as the most popular countries within the MENA region.
The MENA region matched the USA’s ranking as a key market for expansion, Barclays said.
via ArabianBusiness.com.
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