Return of the British Empire?

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LONDON -- British retailer Harrods may be planning to roll out its upscale convenience store concept in top cities around the world, according to a report by U.K.-based Retail Week.

If the retailer moves forward with this plan, it comes at a time when fellow British retailer Tesco and Japanese retailer FamilyMart are rolling out their U.S. c-store concepts on the West Coast.

Owner Mohamed Al Fayed could ultimately open up to 100 Harrods 102 stores in cities across the United Kingdom as well as Paris, Berlin and New York, the report [image-nocss] said.

The expansion plans are dependent on the success of the first 102 outlet at 102 Brompton Road in London, launched last month.

Even if successful, [the venture] won't even be a pin prick in the c-store market here because it's not a convenience store, industry expert Gerald Lewis, who specializes in overseas markets, told CSP Daily News. Also, they are only projecting 100 in the worldand probably only one in New York City where there really are no c-stores because of the prevalence ofneighborhood grocery shops, bodegas, etc.

The Harrods venture will be mix of smaller shops established under license, with some wholly owned by Al Fayed. The stores will stock Harrods signature products, including more affordable brands such as its own brand of whisky and sauces.

102 Brompton Road offers customers' c-store staples such as milk as well as more luxury items and services, including sushi, energy juices, massages and oxygen sessions, said the report. It has also been decked out with counters from international vendors.

Al Fayed said he wants to make Harrods available to ordinary people, the report added.

According to the Harrod's website, other 102 offerings include:

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