Originally Posted by canukabroad

I read that Waitrose is opening in Dubai in 2008... JV with spineeys.

Is it that big of a deal that they are arriving in UAE?

I understand that with spinneys, carrefor & M&S there's already a great selection...

Does harveynics have a food floor as well?

Do I bother bringing any of delia's books or can I access online?

(yes, FOOD & cooking is a big thing for me...)

Originally Posted by canukabroad

I read that Waitrose is opening in Dubai in 2008... JV with spineeys.

Is it that big of a deal that they are arriving in UAE?

I understand that with spinneys, carrefor & M&S there's already a great selection...

Does harveynics have a food floor as well?

Do I bother bringing any of delia's books or can I access online?

(yes, FOOD & cooking is a big thing for me...)

Originally Posted by MataHari

I'd say you can access Delia online...it's not like she is into porn

Originally Posted by NorthernLad

Spinneys already sell Waitrose products (tinned/frozen/packets).

Originally Posted by Madam Medusa

unlike the fabulous nigella, lol...

the m&s foodhall is really, really crappy...and the harvey nics one just has massively over priced (even more than the uk) choccies/biscuits/jams and the like. Spinneys is already getting more and more waitrose products in, including fresh ones...

MM, xx

Originally Posted by typical

Waitrose in the UAE is Spinneys... they're just rebranding the stores...

Originally Posted by Madam Medusa

no it isn't is it...?? waitrose is owned by John Lewis and simply has a licensing deal with spinneys, who is owned by Albwardly Investments. But they are going to be rebranding 20 spinneys' stores to Waitrose according to the press...

MM, xx

Originally Posted by Madam Medusa

no it isn't is it...?? waitrose is owned by John Lewis and simply has a licensing deal with spinneys, who is owned by Albwardly Investments. But they are going to be rebranding 20 spinneys' stores to Waitrose according to the press...

MM, xx

Originally Posted by typical

It seemed to me, from the announcement, that all the Waitrose stores were actually going to be operated by Spinneys... no? It'll be more like a franchising deal than a licencing one, from what I have read. Could be wrong!

Originally Posted by Madam Medusa

oh god, i don't know, lol...whatever, we'll see waitrose stores here soon, shame it's not tesco...

Originally Posted by canukabroad

Thanks everyone.

Too bad about M&S having a poor food section... just when they were getting their act back in gear in the UK too!

I'll make spinneys first on my list for necessary supplies for the approaching 3 weeks of hotel stay.

Originally Posted by typical

Waitrose in the UAE is Spinneys... they're just rebranding the stores...

Originally Posted by expat.brat

so will the current spinneys just be rebranded to waitrose? if so, which ones? i think it will be the ones in emirates hills, followed by the other new communities

Originally Posted by John Lewis Partnership press release

From April 2008, the first Spinney's store to operate with a Waitrose fascia will be a 25,000 square foot supermarket in a suburb of Dubai, populated by British and other European families. Two further purpose built Waitrose branches will open in July and October 2008 respectively, one situated adjacent to the Dubai Marina and the other at the new Burj Dubai Mall*, currently under construction.

In the following two years, a planned additional 20 Spinneys stores will convert to trade as Waitrose.

Originally Posted by Khaleej Times

Confirming the agreement, Spinneys CEO Jannie Holtzhausen said Spinneys would be converting its existing store in The Meadows to the Waitrose brand, which would open in April. The Meadows has a large ex pat community, many of whom are British.

Two more stores are also slated to open later in the year, one in the new Burj Dubai Mall and the other in the Marina Mall, said Holtzhausen. According to information posted on the Waitrose web site the branches will open in July and October 2008 respectively.