Duchy Originals from Waitrose to be Sold in Spain

El Corte Ingles is one of the world’s largest department stores and will stock a range of Duchy Originals From Waitrose in 50 of its shops and Seriously From Waitrose, its deluxe indulgent range, in two trial stores.

Aug 26 2011 --- Premium Spanish retailer El Corte Inglés is to become the first major European shop to sell the Duchy Originals From Waitrose range.

It is the first deal that Waitrose has struck with a premier European multiple to sell its products. El Corte Ingles is one of the world’s largest department stores and will stock a range of Duchy Originals From Waitrose in 50 of its shops and Seriously From Waitrose, its deluxe indulgent range, in two trial stores.

Sold in the food halls of the upmarket store, Duchy From Waitrose will provide a premium, organic range of quintessential British products including tea, shortbread biscuits and preserves. Sharing our passion for good food, Waitrose believes the quality, organic range will prove popular with Spanish gourmets, tourists and expatriates.

The large El Corte Ingles stores in Alicante will stock 35 products from the end of June 2011, and the range will extend to a total of 50 stores across all regions of Spain by the end of the year. The products will be merchandised in their own ‘from Waitrose’ branded area within the store.

Rupert Ellwood, Manager International Growth said: “Expanding our business into Europe supports our long term growth plans to make the Waitrose brand accessible to more people in more places.”

“Duchy From Waitrose is a unique British brand and our relationship with world renowned retailers like El Corte Ingles gives us the opportunity to grow the brand internationally. We hope to develop further long standing supply partnerships across Europe."

Jose Luis Pascual, Director of Marketing of Food El Corte Ingles, said: "The relationship with Waitrose is a new opportunity to expand and enrich our range of quality organic products. Duchy Originals and Seriously are two strong brands which fit the El Corte Inglés commitment to product innovation and quality. In our Gourmet Club and Gourmet Experience format, which combines wine tasting with the sale of delicatessen products, we have exclusive brands which offer differentiation and allow us to meet the needs of our customers. "