Waitrose to open smaller stores

The store will feature a coffee bar and self-serve area

Supermarket chain Waitrose has revealed plans to move into the convenience store sector as it battles against slowing sales growth.

The retailer will open a trial store Nottingham's new Trinity Square development in December, followed by three more outlets in spring 2009.

The smaller stores will have fish, meat and cheese counters as well as a coffee bar and self-service food area.

The chain, part of the John Lewis Partnership, has 192 UK stores.

"We believe you shouldn't have to compromise on the standard of your shopping experience just because a store is smaller," said managing director Mark Price.

Waitrose's experiment with convenience stores follows its recent trial of "market town" supermarkets, which were putting more emphasis on local and fresh produce.

The group opened shops in St Neots in Cambridgeshire, Brackley in Northamptonshire and Buckingham.