Waitrose will expand its export business as demand for its products abroad has surged with both local and expat shoppers.
The upmarket supermarket said its export sales were up 14% on last year and is targeting 10% growth for next year. Global demand for its own-brand products has grown by 92% in the last decade as it continues to expand into new territories.
Waitrose, which began exporting products more than 25 years ago, currently ships to 42 territories, such as Malaysia, Chile, Jordan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and nine Caribbean islands.
It is in discussions with several international supermarkets and distributors in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe to expand its offer further.
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The supermarket said that over 2,000 of its own-brand products, from chilled and frozen to cupboard essentials and health and beauty lines, were available around the world.
Its top selling products for the year so far are its Essential Chopped Tomatoes, with 200,000 cans sold, and Essential Toilet Paper, with 120,000 rolls purchased.
Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: “Waitrose has truly been overheard around the world and shoppers from Antigua to Vietnam want to get their hands on our products, which are renowned for taste, quality and provenance.
“We’re now expanding our international business to cater for the growing global demand from local residents and British expats who miss the taste of Waitrose from home.”
Last week, Waitrose unveiled its top food and drink trends of 2023, with comfort food, cocktails in a can and fermented products soaring in popularity.
