Editing Waitrose

{{Short description|British supermarket chain owned by John Lewis Partnership}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Waitrose Limited
| logo = Waitrose & Partners logo.svg
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| genre = 
| foundation = 1904
| founder = Wallace Waite<br>Arthur Rose<br>David Taylor
| location_city = [[Bracknell]]
| location_country = England
| locations = 329 (April 2023)
| area_served = [[United Kingdom]]
| industry = Supermarket
| products = Food
| services = Supermarkets<br>Online shopping
| revenue = {{Increase}} £7.7 billion (2024)<ref name=results>{{cite web|url=https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/content/dam/cws/pdfs/Juniper/ARA/JLP-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2024.pdf|title=Annual Report 2023/24|publisher=John Lewis Partnership|access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{Increase}} £1.1 billion (2024)<ref name=results/>
| net_income = 
| key_people = [[James Bailey (businessman)|James Bailey]] (Executive director)
| num_employees = {{Increase}}49,600 (2024)<ref name=results/>
| parent = [[John Lewis Partnership]]
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| homepage = {{official URL}}
| footnotes = 
}}
[[File:Waitrose.jpg|thumb|right|The Waitrose branch in [[Cheadle Hulme]], [[Stockport]], built in 2007, was Waitrose's first purpose-built retail outlet in [[Northern England]]]]

'''Waitrose Limited''',<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 September 1908 |title=Waitrose Limited overview - Find and update company information - Gov.uk |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00099405 |access-date=8 February 2025 |website=[[Companies House]] |language=en}}</ref><!-- Do not remove or move the full company name. See [[MOS:FIRSTCORP]]. --> [[trading as]] '''Waitrose & Partners''', is a British supermarket chain, founded in 1904 as Waite, Rose & Taylor, later shortened to Waitrose. In 1937, it was acquired by the [[John Lewis Partnership]], the UK's largest [[Employee share schemes in the United Kingdom|employee-owned business]], which continues to operate the brand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Lewis Partnership - Who We Are |url=https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/who-we-are.html |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk}}</ref> The company's head offices are in [[Bracknell]], [[Berkshire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Head Office {{!}} John Lewis Partnership Careers |url=https://www.jlpjobs.com/head-office/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=JLPJobs.com |language=en}}</ref>

As of April 2023, Waitrose & Partners operates 329 shops across Great Britain and the [[Channel Islands]], including 65 "little Waitrose" convenience shops.<ref name="About">{{cite web |title=John Lewis Partnership - Who we are |url=https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/who-we-are.html |access-date=20 April 2023 |publisher=John Lewis Partnership}}</ref> They also export products to 52 countries and have locations in the [[Middle East]].<ref name="jlp">{{cite web |title=Waitrose |url=https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/waitrose.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229154022/http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/waitrose.html |archive-date=29 December 2018 |access-date=27 December 2017 |website=John Lewis Partnership |publisher=John Lewis Partnership plc}}</ref>

Known for its "upmarket" reputation, as described by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' and ''[[The Guardian]]'', Waitrose has been positioned as a premium supermarket. However, former managing director [[Mark Price, Baron Price|Mark Price]] has said that its prices are competitive with those of [[Tesco]], a mid-market chain.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ruddick |first=Graham |date=27 December 2013 |title=Changing the 'upmarket' perception of Waitrose |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10538240/Changing-the-upmarket-perception-of-Waitrose.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10538240/Changing-the-upmarket-perception-of-Waitrose.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=8 January 2014 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Zoe |date=29 June 2011 |title=Waitrose or Lidl? Shoppers in a divided Britain compare supermarkets deals |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jun/29/waitrose-lidl-shopper-divided-britain |access-date=8 January 2014 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=18 September 2013 |title=Supermarket wars: Now upmarket Waitrose wants to open branch in Stoke Newington |url=http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2013/09/18/waitrose-stoke-newington/ |access-date=8 January 2014 |work=Hackney Citizen}}</ref>  The company holds a [[Royal warrant of appointment (United Kingdom)|royal warrant]] to supply groceries, wine, and spirits to [[Charles III|King Charles III]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Womack |first1=Sarah |date=2 December 2002 |title=Waitrose awarded a royal warrant |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1416965/Waitrose-awarded-a-Royal-Warrant.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1416965/Waitrose-awarded-a-Royal-Warrant.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |access-date=25 February 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Waitrose Press Centre Another Royal Warrant for Waitrose |url=http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Another-Royal-Warrant-for-Waitrose-69d.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305030648/http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Another-Royal-Warrant-for-Waitrose-69d.aspx |archive-date=5 March 2012 |access-date=25 December 2012 |publisher=Waitrose.presscentre.com}}</ref>

== History ==
Founded in 1904 by Wallace Waite, Arthur Rose and David Taylor, Waitrose & Partners began as a small grocery, Waite, Rose & Taylor, in [[Acton, London|Acton]], [[West London]].<ref name=History>{{cite web |url=http://www.waitrose.com/content/waitrose/en/home/about_waitrose/corporate_information/company_history.html |title=Company History |publisher=Waitrose |access-date=25 February 2009}}</ref> In 1908, two years after David Taylor had left the business, the name "Waitrose", from the remaining founders' names, was adopted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ciao.co.uk/Waitrose_Shop__82235 |title=Founders |publisher=Ciao |access-date=25 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710063357/http://www.ciao.co.uk/Waitrose_Shop__82235 |archive-date=10 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In 1937, the company, consisting of ten shops and 160 employees, was taken over by the John Lewis Partnership.<ref name="History" /> In 1944, the partnership purchased the South [[Essex]] grocery business Schofield and Martin, which had 12 shops in its chain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waitrosememorystore.org.uk/page_id__238.aspx|title=Acquisition of small food chains by Linda Moroney – Waitrosememorystore.co.uk|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

In 1955, the chain opened its first Waitrose supermarket in [[Streatham]], London, and continued to expand throughout London and the South East of England during the 1960s. In the 1970s, Waitrose opened branches in [[Hampshire]], [[Bedfordshire]], Essex and [[Cambridgeshire]]. On 16 June 2016 the shop's most southerly branch opened in [[Truro]], [[Cornwall]].<ref>{{cite news|title='Exciting times' as Waitrose and Great Cornish Food Shop open|date=16 June 2016|newspaper=West Briton|url=http://www.westbriton.co.uk/exciting-times-great-cornish-food-store-opens/story-29404499-detail/story.html|access-date=16 June 2016}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In the early 21st century, Waitrose continued its expansion, which included purchasing shops from [[Somerfield]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/619214.stm |title=Somerfield sells shops |work=BBC News |date=26 January 2000 |access-date=25 February 2009}}</ref> [[Morrisons]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/mar/26/supermarkets |title=Waitrose buys former Safeway shops |work=The Guardian |date=26 March 2004 |access-date=25 February 2009 | location=London | first=Julia | last=Finch}}</ref> and [[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworths]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jun/19/woolworths.retail?gusrc=rss&feed=business |title=Is Woolies finished? |work=The Guardian |date=19 June 2008 |access-date=25 February 2009 | location=London | first=Julia | last=Finch}}</ref>

In 2009 the firm signed a deal with [[Alliance Boots]] which allowed Boots to operate branded pharmacies in Waitrose shops and Boots shops to sell Waitrose food products.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Creevy |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.retail-week.com/retail-sectors/food/waitrose-chases-convenience-market-and-signs-deal-with-boots-uk/5006555.article |title=Waitrose chases convenience market and signs deal with Boots UK |magazine=Retail Week |date=24 September 2009 |access-date=25 December 2012}}</ref> The partnership between the companies ended in 2012 having been deemed unsuccessful, which led to Boots replacing Waitrose products with items from Irish retailer [[Musgrave Group|Musgrave's]] [[SuperValu (Ireland)|SuperValu]] chain.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zuke |first=Elinor |url=http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/companies/symbols-and-buying-groups/musgrave/boots-turns-to-musgrave-after-waitrose-trial-flops/232078.article |title=Boots turns to Musgrave after Waitrose trial flops |work=The Grocer |date=30 August 2012 |access-date=25 December 2012}}</ref>

Profitability issues at the end of the decade resulted in John Lewis announcing the closure of five Waitrose shops in 2018 and the sale of a further five Waitrose shops to other retailers in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|title=John Lewis cuts staff bonus to lowest level since 1953|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/07/john-lewis-cuts-staff-bonus-to-lowest-level-since-1953|newspaper=The Guardian|date=7 March 2019|author=Sarah Butler}}</ref>

==Brand and marketing==
[[File:Old Waitrose Logo.png|thumb|The logo of Waitrose prior to the re-brand in 2003]]
[[File:Waitrose Logo.svg|thumb|Waitrose logo from 2004 to 2018]]
Waitrose sponsored [[Reading Football Club]] from 2008 to 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/waitrose-reading-sponsors-sponsorship-2523950.aspx|title=Confirmed: Waitrose renew with Royals|website=www.readingfc.co.uk|access-date=23 May 2016}}</ref> and the [[England cricket team]] for three years from 2013 to 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ecb-loses-crucial-wicket-waitrose-announces-it-will-not-renew-sponsorship-deal-1543469|title=ECB loses crucial wicket as Waitrose announces it will not renew sponsorship deal|date=12 February 2016|website=International Business Times UK|access-date=23 May 2016|author-first1=Dan|author-last1=Cancian}}</ref>

In March 2010, Waitrose released a series of adverts, in print, online, and on national television, featuring celebrity chefs [[Delia Smith]] and [[Heston Blumenthal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/oct/20/waitrose-ad-heston-blumental|title=Waitrose's Heston Blumenthal and Delia Smith ads banned|date=20 October 2010|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Waitrose stall, Headingley Stadium during the second day of the England-Sri Lanka test (21st April 2014).JPG|thumb|A Waitrose promotional stall at [[Headingley Cricket Ground|Headingley]] during a 2014 Test between [[England cricket team|England]] and [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]]]]

===Waitrose Duchy Organic===
{{main|Waitrose Duchy Organic}}
In 1983 Waitrose became the first major supermarket chain to sell [[organic food]], and by 2008 it had an 18% share of the organic food market. In September 2009, [[Waitrose Duchy Organic|Duchy Originals]], the struggling organic food business started by [[Charles III|King Charles III]] was rescued by Waitrose, which agreed to an exclusive deal to stock the range, and to pay a small fee to his charity.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/sep/10/prince-charles-duchy-originals-waitrose |work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Waitrose in deal with Prince Charles's Duchy Originals food company | first=Rebecca | last=Smithers | date=10 September 2009 | access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> In August 2010, the Duchy range was relaunched with many new lines under the ''Duchy Originals from Waitrose'' (later ''Waitrose Duchy Organic'') brand.<ref name="THE NEW FACE OF BRITISH ORGANIC FOOD">{{cite web|title=The New Face Of British Organic Food |publisher=Duchy Originals |url=http://www.duchyoriginals.com/post.php/News/356 |date=2 August 2010 |access-date=5 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806215117/http://www.duchyoriginals.com/post.php/News/356 |archive-date=6 August 2010 }}</ref>

===Product ranges===
* Essential Waitrose: Aware that Waitrose risked being seen as a food retailer for special occasions rather than everyday shopping, the chain launched its value range of products as "essential Waitrose" in March 2009. The marketing used the tagline: "Quality you'd expect at prices you wouldn't". 1,400 products were branded with this name using simple white-based packaging.<ref>{{cite web|title=2010: Waitrose, Brand Extension - Case Study|url=https://www.marketingsociety.com/the-library/2010-waitrose-brand-extension-case-study|publisher=The Marketing Society|date=9 June 2012|access-date=23 January 2017}}</ref> Some people poked fun at the range for selling products that are not essential, such as [[ratatouille]] Provençal and [[limoncello]] desserts. Nevertheless, the range was highly successful. By 2016 it had more than 2,000 items and £1.1 billion annual sales, making it one of only five food and drink brands in Britain worth more than £1 billion.<ref name=Wallop>{{cite news|title=Why Waitrose is launching its first premium range|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/news/why-waitrose-is-launching-its-first-premium-range/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/news/why-waitrose-is-launching-its-first-premium-range/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|author=Harry Wallop|date=1 April 2016|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=15 June 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* No 1 Waitrose is a range of around 650 premium lines with black packaging.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/ranging-and-merchandising/waitrose-revamps-premium-no1-range-with-200-products-added/598041.article|title=Waitrose revamps premium No.1 range with 200 products added|first=Ronan|last=Hegarty|website=The Grocer}}</ref>
* Cooks Ingredients are spices, herbs and related products with colourful packaging.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2022/08/waitrose-cooks-ingredients/|title=Waitrose spices up Cooks' Ingredients range for Tik Tok-inspired chefs - Retail Gazette|first=Mark|last=Faithfull|date=23 August 2022|website=www.retailgazette.co.uk}}</ref>
* Heston for Waitrose is a range of prepared foods such as pies and cakes developed by celebrity chef [[Heston Blumenthal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketingweek.com/waitrose-to-launch-heston-blumenthal-range/|title=Waitrose to launch Heston Blumenthal 'range'|date=16 July 2010|website=Marketing Week}}</ref>

===myWaitrose loyalty card===
In late 2011 the supermarket introduced its first loyalty card scheme, ''myWaitrose''. It differed from supermarket loyalty schemes like Tesco Clubcard and Nectar, giving cardholders access to exclusive competitions and offers instead of allowing them to collect points.<ref>{{cite web|title=Waitrose unveils first loyalty card in strategic shift|url=http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/1100271/waitrose-unveils-first-loyalty-card-strategic-shift|work=Marketing Magazine|publisher=Haymarket|access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref>

It later began to give cardholders 10% off selected products, as well as free tea or coffee in store and money off their shopping for purchasing selected newspapers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Waitrose ramps up 10% off deal for myWaitrose card holders|url=http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/companies/supermarkets/waitrose/waitrose-ramps-up-10-off-deal-for-mywaitrose-card-holders/350036.article|work=The Grocer|publisher=William Reed Business Media|access-date=27 December 2013}}</ref> Former Managing director [[Mark Price, Baron Price|Mark Price]] has said that this offer has made Waitrose the second largest provider of coffee in the UK, calling it a "phenomenal" response that showed other schemes offering the different system of loyalty points to be meaningless. He told ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'': "Giving free coffee or free newspapers is disruptive to the market, but I think that is what customers want, I don't think they want a point. I mean, what is a point? I think it's meaningless. It doesn't have the richness, it doesn't have the affinity you can gauge if you engage with your customers in a different way. It is about what do consumers value today, not what did they value historically. So green shield stamps, or points, were a response to what happened post-war...I just don't think that is where the world is now."<ref>{{cite news|title=Waitrose boss attacks 'meaningless' loyalty cards|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10538458/Waitrose-boss-attacks-meaningless-loyalty-cards.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10538458/Waitrose-boss-attacks-meaningless-loyalty-cards.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=27 December 2013|location=London|first=Graham|last=Ruddick|date=27 December 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

''The Daily Telegraph'' also later reported that Waitrose has faced "complaints from disgruntled middle-class shoppers who claim its free coffee offer is attracting the wrong kind of customer".<ref>{{cite news|title=Waitrose faces 'middle-class backlash' after free coffee attracts 'wrong kind of customer'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10542060/Waitrose-faces-middle-class-backlash-after-free-coffee-attracts-wrong-kind-of-customer.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10542060/Waitrose-faces-middle-class-backlash-after-free-coffee-attracts-wrong-kind-of-customer.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=30 December 2013|location=London|first=Emily|last=Gosden|date=30 December 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Price matching===
In 2010, Waitrose began a price guarantee, matching prices of 1,000 items with [[Tesco]]. In 2012, it extended this campaign to 7,000 items.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wood |first=Zoe |title=Waitrose matches Tesco prices with 'never knowingly undersold' pledge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/may/02/waitrose-johnlewis |access-date=2 April 2015 |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |date=2 May 2012}}</ref>

===''Waitrose Kitchen'' magazine===
In February 2015, ''Waitrose Kitchen'' magazine included an advertising pamphlet, "Taste of Israel", submitted by the Israeli government, in which traditional [[Arab cuisine|Arabic foods]] were referred to as Israeli. The advert prompted a social media backlash against Waitrose.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/16/waitrose-are-getting-a-battering-over-taste-of-israel-magazine-5106180/ |author=Wheaton, Oliver |date=16 March 2015 |access-date=11 April 2015 |title=Waitrose are getting a battering over running Taste of Israel advert |work=Metro}}</ref>

==Corporate practices==
{{Main|John Lewis Partnership}}
[[File:Waitrose token.jpg|thumb|A Waitrose 'Community Matters' charity token]]
[[File:Waitrose, Putney Exchange 02.jpg|thumb|A Waitrose customer services partner serving a customer during the Christmas period at [[Putney]]]]
Waitrose and its related brands are owned by the John Lewis Partnership (JLP), which is itself owned by its employees, referred to within the organisation as "partners."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Corporate Irresponsibility Committee|last=Savage|first=John|year=2014|publisher=Brown Dog|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ktIuDwAAQBAJ&q=waitrose+partner|access-date=13 January 2019|isbn=9781903056783}}</ref>{{dead link|date=April 2025}} Employee shares are held in trust by the Partnership—their shares cannot be sold by the individual partners. The partners' economic rewards are achieved through the payment of bonuses, based on the JLP's annual profits.<ref>{{cite book|title= A Better Way of Doing Business?|last1=Salaman|first1=Graeme|last2=Storey|first2=Jon|year=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GaqkDAAAQBAJ&q=john+lewis+partnership|access-date=13 January 2019|isbn=9780198782827}}</ref> As such, they receive certain benefits, including the Partnership bonus, usually around 10–20% of a Partner's yearly salary in a lump sum paid in March.<ref>{{cite news|title=John Lewis profits and bonuses up|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7280913.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=14 August 2016|date=6 March 2008}}</ref> However, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the Partnership bonus was suspended in both the 2020 and 2021 financial years, angering many Partners as they felt their hard work was not recognised.<ref>{{cite news|title=John Lewis profits and bonuses axed|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-john-lewis-partnership-axes-staff-bonus-as-it-slumps-to-635m-loss-12073822|work=Sky News|access-date=20 November 2021|date=17 September 2020}}</ref>

Waitrose donates a portion of its profits to a group of charities on a proportional basis, whilst individual Waitrose branches manage their own charitable donations and local decisions are made on which charities are to be supported. This is a system called "Community Matters", where customers are invited to choose to whom they want money to be donated.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waitrose.com/internetaccessfromwaitrose/raisingmoneyforcharity.aspx |title=Raising Money For Charity |publisher=Waitrose |access-date=25 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217002319/http://www.waitrose.com/internetaccessfromwaitrose/raisingmoneyforcharity.aspx |archive-date=17 February 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The supermarket launched the Waitrose Foundation in 2005, providing funds for education, worker facilities, and health services among other things for fruit growers in South Africa. This was expanded to Ghana and Kenya in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Waitrose Foundation|url=http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=855cdada-93af-4e38-9fa3-acc048049a86&NavigationId=1422|publisher=Waitrose|access-date=7 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815101328/http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=855cdada-93af-4e38-9fa3-acc048049a86&NavigationId=1422|archive-date=15 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Shops==
Traditionally, Waitrose branches were largely concentrated in the south-east of England and Greater London; even as recently as 2003, its northernmost English branch was in [[Newark-on-Trent]], [[Nottinghamshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andidas.com/academic/babm/RetailMarketing_WaitroseTraineeGuide_by_andidas.pdf|title=Waitrose MBA Trainee Guide: Key Management Decisions|date=March 2003|website=www.andidas.com|access-date=21 December 2015}}</ref> However, the company's expansion northwards and into Scotland since the mid-2000s has changed this significantly: the most northerly Waitrose shop is now located in [[Stirling]], which opened in January 2013. Waitrose opened its 300th shop in [[Helensburgh]] on the [[River Clyde]] on 23 October 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Waitrose Unveils Fifth Branch in Scotland|url=http://www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org/news/article-info/4178/waitrose-unveils-fifth-branch-in-scotland.aspx|work=Scotland Food And Drink|access-date=29 March 2013}}</ref>

Waitrose shops vary considerably in size. For example, the smallest branch, little Waitrose at [[London King's Cross railway station|King's Cross station, London]],<ref name="Waitrose opens its first station branch">{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Waitrose opens first stations branch |url=http://waitrose.pressarea.com/pressrelease/details/78/SHOPS%20&%20EXPANSION_14/3540 |publisher=Waitrose Media Centre |date=19 August 2014 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> occupies only {{convert|2500|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of retail space.<ref name="Waitrose opens first train station shop in London's King's Cross">{{cite news|author=Tiffany Holland|url=http://www.retail-week.com/property/in-pictures-waitrose-opens-first-train-station-store-in-kings-cross/5063366.article|title=In pictures: Waitrose opens first train station shop in London's King's Cross|date=19 August 2014|newspaper=[[Retail Week]]|url-access=subscription |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref>

Some Waitrose shops incorporate an in-house restaurant selling hot and cold food sourced in the main from the shop. The myWaitrose card, which customers can obtain online, offers free hot drinks from the store's self-service machines with a purchase of goods; this was withdrawn owing to the COVID-19 pandemic but as of February 2023 the coffee offer has returned.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60689273|title=Waitrose free coffee will have a trial return in some stores|work=BBC|date=10 March 2022 |access-date=2 May 2022}}</ref><ref name=Grocer1>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/home/topics/environment/waitrose-to-end-free-hot-drinks-in-cafs-and-remove-disposable-takeaway-cups/565675.article|title=Waitrose to end free hot drinks in cafés and remove disposable takeaway cups|magazine=The Grocer|author=Marianne Calnan|date=10 April 2018}}</ref>

Internationally, Waitrose holds a licensing agreement with [[Spinneys]] of [[Dubai]], United Arab Emirates, which operate two purpose-built branches, of which the first opened in the [[Dubai Mall]] in October 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/consumerproducts-SP/idUSL3135496120080102 |title=Waitrose in Dubai deal to open first shops abroad |work=Reuters |date=31 December 2007 |access-date=25 February 2009}}</ref> In the United Arab Emirates, it is an official grocery supplier to the [[House of Maktoum|royal family]], the House of Maktoum.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gremaud |first=Rinny |title=All the World's a Mall |publisher=University of Alberta Press |year=2023 |isbn=9781772127126 |publication-date=26 September 2023 |pages=106–107 |language=English}}</ref> 

===Convenience shops and little Waitrose===
[[File:Waitrose, Lands Lane, Leeds (11th April 2011).jpg|thumb|right|A Waitrose convenience shop on Lands Lane in [[Leeds city centre]]]]
[[File:Waitrose Cheam London Borough of Sutton.JPG|thumb|A little Waitrose shop in [[Cheam]]]]
Announcing its foray into the convenience sector in July 2008,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/waitrose-to-open-convenience-stores-in-pursuit-of-16327bn-market-863051.html | location=London |work=[[The Independent]]| first=James | last=Thompson | title=Waitrose to open convenience shops in pursuit of £27bn market | date=9 July 2008}}</ref> Waitrose opened its first convenience shop in [[Nottingham]] in December of that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.supermarket.co.uk/news/2008/Dec/waitrose-first-convenience-store-opens-for-business.html |title=Waitrose First Convenience Shop Opens For Business |work=supermarket.co.uk |date=11 December 2008 |access-date=5 June 2011}}</ref> In September 2009, it was announced that a large scale rollout of the concept was planned, opening up to 300 shops in 5 to 10 years. The new arm will operate in a two-tier environment, with the majority of sites expected to trade from {{convert|2,500|to|3,000|sqft|m2|abbr=off}} and some trading from a larger {{convert|5,000|to|7,000|sqft|m2|abbr=off}} floor plate.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/sep/24/waitrose-convenience-stores-boots |title=Waitrose to open 300-strong network of convenience shops |date=24 September 2009 |access-date=5 June 2011 |location=London |work=The Guardian |first1=Julia |last1=Finch |first2=Graeme |last2=Wearden}}</ref> A trial of a 'little Waitrose' fascia on smaller floor plate shops may yet lead to brand differentiation of some or all of the convenience estate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/34121-little-waitrose-opens-in-london |title=Little Waitrose opens in London |access-date=5 June 2011}}</ref>

[[Shell plc|Shell]] operates a series of Little Waitrose stores at selected petrol stations in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shell.co.uk/motorist/food-and-drink/little-waitrose.html |title=Little Waitrose & Partners |work=[[Shell plc|Shell]]|access-date=2 May 2022}}</ref>

In August 2024, Waitrose announced plans to open 100 new convenience shops over the next five years.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Waitrose to open 100 new convenience shops |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6yngde8v1o |access-date=2024-08-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Welcome Break===
In May 2009, Waitrose started a franchise deal with the motorway service station operator [[Welcome Break]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=70e91273-187d-4bfb-ae62-8d2f87d6a9a2&NavigationId=553 |title=Waitrose agrees first franchise deal with Welcome Break |publisher=Waitrose Press Office |date=1 April 2009 |access-date=3 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815005448/http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=70e91273-187d-4bfb-ae62-8d2f87d6a9a2&NavigationId=553 |archive-date=15 August 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

===Closed / sold stores===
Waitrose closed four convenience shops and one supermarket in the UK in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|title= Five Waitrose stores to close after John Lewis issues warning on profits|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jun/27/john-lewis-to-close-five-waitrose-stores-after-warning-on-profits|author=Sarah Butler and agency|date=27 June 2018|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> This was followed by the announcement of twelve further store closures in 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Retail Gazette|title=440 jobs at risk as Waitrose announces 5 store closures|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/03/440-jobs-at-risk-as-waitrose-announces-5-store-closures/|author=Elias Jahshan|date=7 March 2019|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Retail Gazette|title=Waitrose to close 7 shops, risking 677 jobs|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/07/waitrose-close-7-shops-risking-677-jobs/|author=Sahar Nazir|date=19 July 2019|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> In September 2020, a further four stores, Caldicot, Ipswich, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton, were announced as closing, the last having been sold to [[Tesco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54178008|title=Waitrose announces closure of four stores|date=16 September 2020|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref>

{{div-col}}

===2014===
* [[Dartford]], Kent

===2015===
* [[Littlehampton]], West Sussex. Re-located to Rustington

===2016===
* [[Leeds]] City Centre, West Yorkshire
* [[Tottenham Court Road]], London

===2017===
* [[Cardiff]] Queen Street
* [[Hertford]], Hertfordshire
* [[Huntingdon]], Cambridgeshire
* [[Leek, Staffordshire|Leek]], Staffordshire. Re-opened as Lidl
* [[Palmers Green]], London. Re-located to Winchmore Hill
* [[Staines-upon-Thames]], Surrey. Re-opened as M&S Foodhall

===2018===
* [[Spinningfields]], Manchester. Reopened as a Co-op
* [[Manchester Piccadilly station]]. Reopened as a Co-op
* [[Colmore Row]], Birmingham. Re-opened as Co-op 2019.
* [[Portman Square]], London
* [[Camden Town]], London

===Spring 2019===
* [[Torquay]]. Re-opened as Lidl June 2020.
* [[Teignmouth]]. Re-opened as Lidl January 2020.
* [[Blaby]], Leicestershire
* [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan]]
* [[Ashbourne, Derbyshire]]

===Autumn 2019===
* [[Bromley]]
* [[Oadby]]
* [[Wollaton]]. Re-opened as Lidl
* [[Sandhurst, Berkshire|Sandhurst]]. Re-opened as Aldi
* [[Marlow, Buckinghamshire|Marlow]], Buckinghamshire. Re-opened as Lidl.
* [[Stevenage]]
* [[Waterside (building)|Waterside]] building ([[British Airways]] headquarters)

===Spring 2020===
* [[Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield|Four Oaks]]. Re-opened as Aldi.
* [[Helensburgh]]. Now a Morrisons
* [[Waterlooville]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://waitrosememorystore.org.uk/content/branches-3/branches-f-h/four-oaks-150/waterlooville-239-closure-announcement | title=Branch closures announcement | date=25 March 2020 }}</ref>

===Autumn 2020===

* [[Wolverhampton]]. Reopened as Tesco June 2021
* [[Shrewsbury]]. Now a [[Greggs]]
* [[Caldicot, Monmouthshire]]
* [[Ipswich]], Corn Exchange

===2022===
* [[Croydon]], London
* [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], Tyne & Wear

{{div-col-end}}

==Online presence==
===Ocado===
In April 2000, the online food retailer [[Ocado]] was launched, with the Ocado service being only available in certain areas of Britain. [[John Lewis Partnership]] came on board as a principal supplier and part owner in October 2000, although the relationship between the two began formally in January 2002. In August 2020, Waitrose announced they would cease operations with Ocado, which ended on 1 September 2020. Ocado partnered with Waitrose's rival store [[Marks & Spencer]].<ref name="WR Ocado info 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/help-information/customer-service/ocado-and-waitrose|title=I thought Ocado was the online service for Waitrose & Partners. Are they different?|quote="Yes, we’re two separate companies. Ocado is an online-only retailer that currently buys groceries from Waitrose & Partners and other companies, and delivers them to shoppers from its warehouses. The relationship between the two began formally in January 2002. Waitrose & Partners had started its own delivery service but, due to our relatively small size at that time, we needed the help of an established network such as Ocado. Until 31 August 2020, both Ocado and waitrose.com had been delivering Waitrose & Partners own-brand products, but from 1 September 2020, the only place you can buy Waitrose & Partners products is in our stores on at waitrose.com."|publisher=Waitrose|date=|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref> Arrangements were amended in 2010 to a ten-year agreement to supply products to Ocado.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=276b5ad3-7284-4182-b2a3-418471273212&NavigationId=553|title=Waitrose and Ocado Announce New 10 Year Branding and Sourcing Deal|publisher=John Lewis Partnership|date=10 May 2010|access-date=7 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716073246/http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/Display.aspx?MasterId=276b5ad3-7284-4182-b2a3-418471273212&NavigationId=553|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2011, John Lewis Pension trust divested itself of its Ocado shares.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12428399|title=Ocado shares hit after John Lewis sells stake|work=BBC News|date=11 February 2011|access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref>

===Waitrose.com===
Waitrose operates its own delivery service, Waitrose.com (previously WaitroseDeliver), which originally was only available in certain shops, delivering goods ordered through the internet and serviced from the local branch. Not to be confused with Ocado, which is an unrelated business, which formerly had a licence to distribute Waitrose items until 1 September 2020, when Waitrose ended its relationship with Ocado, to instead operate deliveries solely by itself from centralised fulfilment centres.<ref name="WR Ocado info 1"/> As well as ordinary online groceries shopping, Waitrose.com also hosts the online ordering system for Waitrose's special order food and cakes service "Waitrose Entertaining". Waitrose became the first supermarket to abolish all delivery charges as of May 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.waitrosedeliver.com/wdeliver/app/shop?op=wtrEntertaining&siteCode=BI&source=32129|title=WaitroseDeliver|publisher=Waitrose|access-date=25 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618032806/http://www.waitrosedeliver.com/wdeliver/app/shop?op=wtrEntertaining&siteCode=BI&source=32129|archive-date=18 June 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In October 2011, Waitrose opened a "[[Dark store|Dotcom Fulfilment Centre]]" in Acton, West London, less than two miles from its original shop. The shop employs more than 200 Partners and provides Waitrose internet food deliveries for most of west and central London from a dedicated site. The shop, whilst not open to the public, is laid out in a similar manner to a regular shop and even offers service counter lines, much like a normal Waitrose supermarket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Waitrose-dotcom-fulfilment-centre-opens-in-London-774.aspx|title=The Waitrose Press Centre Waitrose dotcom fulfilment centre opens in London|publisher=Waitrose.presscentre.com|access-date=25 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106074111/http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Waitrose-dotcom-fulfilment-centre-opens-in-London-774.aspx|archive-date=6 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In March 2020, Waitrose announced that it was to add its Waitrose.com online delivery service to 24 more of its stores across the UK in preparation for its split with Ocado in September 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/waitrose-expands-online-delivery-network-02-03-2020/|title=Waitrose expands online delivery network|last=Wells|first=Liz|date=2 March 2020|website=Talking Retail|language=en-US|access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref>

== Animal welfare ==
In 2020, undercover footage was filmed on a farm in Yorkshire that supplied milk to Waitrose, [[Tesco]], [[Sainsbury's]] and [[Ocado]]. The footage showed goats being extremely badly treated. Waitrose immediately suspended the farm's brand when the footage was released.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-29 |title=Goats punched, hit and 'left lame' at farm supplying milk to major supermarkets |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/goats-milk-st-helens-farm-yoghurt-hit-kick-animal-cruelty-video-a9639021.html |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> 

In 2022, Waitrose signed the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), which calls for the more ethical treatment and slaughter of farmed chickens. They have committed to fully meet BCC welfare standards by September 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Animal welfare standards remain a worry as chicken commitments wane |url=https://www.ingredientsnetwork.com/animal-welfare-standards-remain-a-worry-as-news126860.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=www.ingredientsnetwork.com}}</ref>

Since 2023, Waitrose has collaborated with its suppliers to trial electrical stunning as a more humane method of slaughter for farmed prawns, replacing traditional practices such as asphyxiation or immersion in ice slurry. In 2025, the company announced plans to implement electrical stunning across its entire supply chain for farmed prawns by the end of 2026, following discussions with the International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW). Waitrose has also phased out the practice of shrimps [[eyestalk ablation]] within its supply chain.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ungoed-Thomas |first=Jon |date=15 February 2025 |title=Waitrose to stop selling suffocated farmed prawns, as campaigners say they feel pain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/prawn-farming-cruelty-electrical-stunning-waitrose |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

==Awards and acclaims==
Waitrose has received a number of awards. Its wines have been given awards by ''[[Decanter (magazine)|Decanter]]'' magazine and the [[International Wine and Spirit Competition]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Waitrose-Wins-Wine-Award-Grand-Slam-808.aspx |title=Waitrose Wins Wine Award Grand Slam |access-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919004931/http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Waitrose-Wins-Wine-Award-Grand-Slam-808.aspx |archive-date=19 September 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.winedine.co.uk/page.php?cid=1067&PHPSESSID=ab36202350b5 |title=Decanter World Wine Awards gives Waitrose Top Accolade |magazine=Decanter |date=5 September 2007 |access-date=25 February 2009}}</ref> The supermarket chain has also received awards for its retail service, including from ''[[Which?]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=5965 |title=Waitrose and John Lewis named top of the shops by Which? |publisher=Webwire |access-date=25 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.refresh.eu/index.php?zr=06win |title=Re:Fresh Awards Winners 2006 |publisher=Re:Fresh |date=11 May 2006 |access-date=25 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216085226/http://www.refresh.eu/index.php?zr=06win |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.refresh.eu/index.php?zr=07win |title=Re:Fresh Awards Winners 2007 |publisher=Re:Fresh |date=10 May 2007 |access-date=25 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216085231/http://www.refresh.eu/index.php?zr=07win |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.which.co.uk/news/2013/02/best-and-worst-supermarkets-revealed-by-which-311258/|title=Waitrose tops survey while Tesco is lowest-rated|access-date=10 March 2015|date=20 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Caroline Mortimer|title=Britain's best value supermarket: Waitrose comes top of Which? 'Best Buy' rankings for own-brand products|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/britains-cheapest-supermarket-waitrose-comes-top-of-which-annual-best-buy-rankings-for-own-brand-a6792856.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=1 January 2016|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref> [[Compassion in World Farming]] and the [[Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals|RSPCA]] have given Waitrose awards for animal welfare.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com/past_awards_2007.html |title=Past Winners 2007 |publisher=RSPCA |access-date=25 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207234837/http://www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com/past_awards_2007.html |archive-date=7 December 2008 }}</ref><ref name="World Farming Awards">{{cite web |url=http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Waitrose-wins-double-title-at-Compassion-in-World-Farming-Awards-for-its-work-on-welfare-71f.aspx |title=Waitrose wins double title at Compassion in World Farming Awards for its work on welfare |access-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815235515/http://www.waitrose.presscentre.com/Press-Releases/Waitrose-wins-double-title-at-Compassion-in-World-Farming-Awards-for-its-work-on-welfare-71f.aspx |archive-date=15 August 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Berkshire|Companies|Organised labour}}

* [[List of supermarket chains in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Publix]], a similar employee-owned regional supermarket in the United States

{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}

{{UK supermarkets}}
{{Convenience stores}}
{{British Royal Warrant holders}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1904 establishments in England]]
[[Category:British royal warrant holders]]
[[Category:Companies based in Bracknell]]
[[Category:Employee-owned companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:John Lewis Partnership]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1904]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Waitrose| ]]