Waitrose has announced that it expects to create 2,000 jobs in new and extended shops, as well as in a new e-commerce grocery depot during 2015.

The company is opening 14 shops nationwide from spring this year, including seven new supermarkets and seven new little Waitrose convenience shops. It has already opened two new shops in Egham and Walbrook this month.

In addition, the retailer is relocating one supermarket and carrying out two major extensions to existing branches. Together, they will add almost 230,000sq ft of selling space to the estate.

The new supermarkets include Wollaton (Nottinghamshire) Milngavie (East Dumbartonshire), Bagshot (Surrey), Oxford, King's Cross (which will incorporate a new cookery school), Basingstoke (Hampshire) and Guildford (Surrey). 

Meanwhile, Waitrose in Horsham will be relocated, doubling the size of the current supermarket, and the branches in Saffron Walden and Bayswater will both undergo major redevelopments. 

It also plans to add a new little Waitrose in Heathfield (East Sussex) and a further six convenience shops in new locations in the south east. 

The business will be also be creating additional roles in its distribution department in order to service its expanding number of branches. These roles will add to the extra jobs Waitrose has already announced for the capital through the opening of a new e-commerce grocery depot in Coulsdon, South London this March.