British supermarket chain Waitrose has entered the growing e-commerce market in the UAE with the launch of its first online store dedicated to customers in the country, and has plans to open two more physical shops.

The e-commerce platform, Waitrose.ae, features more than 15,000 grocery products with at least 2,800 delivery slots available each week.

This comes after the UK retailer opened its sixth outlet in Dubai last month.

In a statement, the company said it also has plans to open two more shops in the city by the end of the year -- in Jumeirah Golf Estates and Meadows Fountain’s View.

The supermarket, which aims to become a £1 billion ($1.3 billion) business by the end of the year, has recently announced a new delivery tie-up with Deliveroo for its customers in the UK, in a trial that aims to bring food to British homes in as little as 30 minutes.

Online grocery

The grocery chain seeks to provide same-day delivery services to more than 1,500 homes across Dubai and Abu Dhabi each week with its e-commerce site.

The online foray is in partnership with Fine Fare Foods, which runs the retailer’s daily operation in the UAE.

Waitrose said it has added 12 delivery vans and has opened 14 positions for drivers through its partner. Customers’ orders will be picked and packed in two of the retailer’s 12 shops across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“Our e-commerce service has grown significantly in the UK and we’re very excited to work with our partners in Fine Fare Foods Limited to extend this to our customers in the United Arab Emirates. It brings an even more convenient way for our customers in the UAE to shop Waitrose products,” said Sarah Burton, business manager for commercial sales at Waitrose.

(Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria)

Cleofe.maceda@refinitiv.com

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