In the marketing world there are many businesses that are now trading internationally and many that have the potential to do so. It is vital that companies that want to progress further need to globalise there market. Waitrose is a food retailer with many outlets trading in the UK and has the potential to trade worldwide. Waitrose was founded in Acton in 1904 by Wallace Waite, A Rose and D Taylor. In 1955 the first store opened in ‘Streatham’ South London. Waitrose currently has 179 stores in the UK. In 1994 the first Waitrose ‘food & home’ store opened. These larger outlets sell a full range of foods along with a selection of household goods from John Lewis department stores (JLP). Waitrose’s major competitors in the market include Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, Marks & Spencer and Iceland