Waitrose is opening its first convenience store in the South East today with an outlet in Oxted, Surrey. The 7,000 sq. ft. store is Waitrose's fourth convenience outlet in the UK and is part of its ambition to open up to 300 such stores over the next 10 years.

Despite its smaller size compared to a traditional Waitrose supermarket, the store will offer a wide range of fresh food with a cheese and deli service counter and a 'time of day' counter with a changing offer of 'food to go'. This will include items like cereal bars and yoghurts in the morning, baguettes and salads at lunch, scones and cakes for afternoon tea and dinner options such as sausage, mash and onion gravy. The in-store bakery will offer a range of hot 'food to go' options, including porridge and bacon rolls for breakfast and freshly baked bread, tea and coffee and hot soup throughout the day. It will also stock the chain's new essential Waitrose range, as well a selection of everyday household items including health & beauty, cleaning and kitchenware products.