UK grocery retailer Waitrose has confirmed it plans to begin exporting food to the US and Canada this year.

The Telegraph reported today (14 February) that Waitrose plans to to expand its export business, which is currently valued at GBP100m (US$159m) a year, but said that the expansion is not a test run for setting up Waitrose outlets abroad.

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According to the report, the company’s focus remains on increasing market share in Britain, but that foreign franchise operations are expanding.

The retailer announced last week that it opened its first store in Bahrain as part of a partnership with the Fine Fare Food Market (FFFM). It also opened a store in Dubai with the FFFM in Dubai during 2008.

It also announced plans yesterday (13 February) open its first store in the Channel Islands on Thursday, its first wholly-owned store outside of the UK.

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