Waitrose to take over Co-op superstore in Hove

Supermarket chain Waitrose is to take over the Co-op superstore in Nevill Road, Hove, from next March.

The deal was announced today (Tuesday 12 November) by the John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose.

All 80 employees at the shop will be offered the opportunity to join Waitrose and become partners in the John Lewis Partnership. Waitrose also hopes to create more jobs at the branch.

The firm said that, as Partners in the John Lewis Partnership, they will have a stake in the success of the business, a say in how it is run and a share in profits.

The Co-op branch will continue to trade as normal until Thursday 13 March next year. It will then close for approximately four weeks while the shop is transformed, before opening as a Waitrose in April.

Waitrose will be launching its Community Matters and Partner Volunteering schemes in Hove, which will see £12,000 and 250 hours donated to local causes nominated by customers each year.

Nigel Keen, director of development at Waitrose, said: “We have wanted to open a shop in Hove for a long time and are looking forward to becoming part of the local community next year and welcoming the new employees to Waitrose and the John Lewis Partnership.”