2:30pm Wednesday 3rd February 2010
By James Nadal
STUBBORNLY loyal Waitrose customers in Marlow can be won over despite their frosty attitude to the store that will replace it, a Sainsbury's boss believes.
Jamie Cowen, head of property for Sainsbury's in the south of the UK, told the Free Press it was 'inevitable' that townsfolk would have an affinity with the old West Street shop.
Waitrose has been in the town for 37 years.
Customers said on Friday they would continue to shop at Waitrose - either at the new Chapel House store or outside Marlow - rather than go to Sainsbury's (See related articles below).
However, he believes shoppers will come around when the new store opens.
He said: “We will try to win them over in the same way that we do in every town, through what we offer, our products and values.
“Some of these customers will be won over, some won't, it's no different to Marlow than anywhere else.
“It's always more difficult when people who are particularly allied to a particular location. “Inevitably there will be some people who are brand loyal.”
Mr Cowen added: “The first thing I would say to the sceptics is come and try it.”
He said the company hopes the size of the store will be a major factor in attracting customers.
The development will make the store larger than the current Waitrose.
“In terms of its density of trade we expect it to be enormously successful,” he said.
“Clearly it's an affluent town with a large propensity to spend.”
He said, although legal agreements have to be finalised, gaining approval was “fantastic” and “means an enormous amount to us”.
“We have waited for sometime to get more representation in the town and bring a better offer for the customers,” he said.
“It will mean an awful lot that we can bring a greater range to the people of Marlow.”
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