A LEADING UK food retailer will expand into Cumbria for the first time - as Waitrose is set to launch in a new food hall in a Carlisle store.

Dobbies, the UK garden centre retailer, has today, February 23, launched a new foodhall offering at its Carlisle branch.

The foodhall at the store at Orton Grange now brings Waitrose’s range of food, drink, grocery products, and everyday essentials to Dobbies’ customers.

The Westmorland Gazette: The shelves are fully stocked in the new food hallThe shelves are fully stocked in the new food hall (Image: Supplied)

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Carlisle is one of more than 45 Dobbies foodhalls across the UK where Waitrose Food and Drinks are due to be launched, and which will bring the supermarket brand to 20 new towns and cities.

Alison Paterson, general manager at Dobbies Carlisle, said: “The foodhall at our store is very popular and the team is really positive about Waitrose being part of the shopping experience for customers.

"Our existing partners will continue to be part of offering, including Lindt, Whittards, the Cook range, as well as our fresh bakery to-go. Waitrose products will be an excellent addition.”

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Dobbies is offering five lucky customers the chance to win their foodhall shopping for free at the Carlisle store.

Five shoppers will be selected at random between February 23 to March 1 to receive the contents of their foodhall shopping basket. Winners will be selected by the team members at the till point. There are also a limited number of £5 off £25 vouchers available in store.

The first Dobbies foodhall to launch with a range of Waitrose products was in Edinburgh. The stores in Gillingham, Ponteland and Stapleton launch on the same day as Carlisle.