Epsom (102): Opening

The Partnership’s second supermarket opened in Epsom High Street on 22nd November 1955. The Acting Manager was Mr A R Murray, along with 42 other Partners, 18 of them part time. The shop had an open layout, aimed at giving customers freedom of circulation. Wall shelving designed for the presentation of a range of branded goods allowed merchandise to be presented in a variety of ways.

This branch (Epsom 102) closed on Saturday 8th October 1983 and reopened as branch 104 on the 11th October 1983, in the Ashley shopping centre, Epsom. All 50 Partners from the old branch transferred to the new. Two of those Partners were Eileen Porter, office manager and Keith Gibbons, section manager, warehouse. The branch manager, Mr David Lower hoped that the new shop with its modern facilities would help to give customers an even better service. The new shop had almost three times the selling space and the number of Partners had doubled to 175.

“We have been working with Partners in the art of Waitrose customer service and I don’t want to disappoint them in the new shop.” Mr David Lower on the opening of Waitrose 104.