Waitrose to send ready meals east

Supermarket Waitrose is preparing to sell its Oriental ready meals to shoppers in South Korea as part of an export deal.

The chain, which sells noodles in Hong Kong and rice in Thailand, will have a range of more than 160 products in six Shinsegae department stores by July.

The tie-up will start with shelf products, but Waitrose said it is in talks to introduce chilled produce such as ready meals later in the year.

Waitrose generates more than £20 million a year from overseas business and hopes events such as the Olympics will further boost demand.