Discover Hertford Online Forum

What's the betting on either Aldi or Lidl replacing Waitrose in Hertford?

lidl will jump at the chance I am sure and although I do shop in lidl from time to time [and believe me folks they do have some cracking produce] not sure hertford is the place, in fact I don't want a supermarket in the town full stop we have enough of em, redevelop but not on the back of a supermarket. To say hertford needs an anchor foodstore is bollocks we have the bars, nice little boutiques all we need is a sprinkling of high st shops and BOOM you have the mix

Now confirmed, Waitrose are out

http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/W ... story.html" target="_blank

As expected Waitrose have confirmed they are on their way.
A spokesman said: “Sadly, our Hertford store does not allow us to compete effectively with newer supermarkets in Hertford and Ware. “It is unfortunately very outdated, small and has poor parking facilities. http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/W ... z3IHZ07wbQ" target="_blank

Personally I'll miss it but there are other shops available but its the quality of some of the produce especially on the deli/meat counters that will be hard to find. The problem for the developer is now attracting another big name to the site or making the decision to go a bit more independent with smaller units but I really can't see that working. The dilemna means that Hertford residents may face a ghost town in that area with empty shops (who's going to stay except maybe boots and Starbucks if Waitrose goes?) as I can't see the owners making a huge investment in the area without a big name store to get the footfall.

I am sure that M&S would prefer a more central location. I don't currently use it as I would have to walk past Waitrose however once they are gone perhaps they will move in. Its sad but I will therefore just order online.

A shame we can't attract Booths a bit further south.

Real shame that Waitrose is leaving the town, M&S taking the space would be great but I cannot see that happening.

Where does that leave the new development? A unit of that size will be hard to fill if the old McDonalds site is anything to go by.

Interesting that the statement from Waitrose featured in The Mercury appears to fly in the face of what Waitrose MD Mark Price said in The Telegraph yesterday:

"The Waitrose boss said that British supermarkets would have to reinvent themselves in order to survive a shift in spending from out-of-town stores to convenience shops"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/1123 ... -boss.html" target="_blank

In the light of his comments, why would Waitrose close a convenient town centre store for an out-of-town one?

Personally I have a suspicion that it's not quite as cut-and-dried as The Mercury (and Waitrose) might have us believe.

Looks like Waitrose Great Amwell might have a problem ...

http://online.eastherts.gov.uk/moderngo ... P%20TH.pdf" target="_blank

"Recommended for refusal"

No.1 reason - Green Belt.

"The proposal is contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, the Local Plan 2007 and the intended direction of the emerging District Plan."

So they might have made themselves homeless then?