Waitrose & Partners news

Big store reinvention is a major focus right now for many retailers globally. And many have identified food-to-go, and wider foodservice, as a key opportunity through which to boost dwell time, increase spend, drive customer experience and deepen the relationship with those visiting the store. But delivering great food-to-go and foodservice solutions is not easy. Globally we’ve helped a number...

Waitrose & Partners is trialling an in-home delivery service, While You’re Away, of groceries in London. Improving convenience through delivery The shopper can grant access to the delivery driver using Yale smart lock technology, by setting a temporary access code for the lock, which is then sent to Waitrose via a secure app. The driver receives this code at the time the customer has booked...

Waitrose & Partners has launched Waitrose Rapid Delivery, a trial of two hour and same-day delivery. The service is being rolled out in London to selected postcodes. Waitrose Rapid Delivery The new scheme allows customers in selected London postcodes to choose up to 20 items from over 1,500 products, with a £5 delivery charge. Waitrose has partnered with delivery start up 'On the dot' to...

The newly rebranded Waitrose & Partners reported gross sales growth of 2.1% to £3.39bn, with like-for-likes up 2.6% for the six months to 28 July 2018. Profit declined, but the retailer is confident growth will return by year end Operating profit before exceptional items declined 12.1% to £96.4m in the reporting period. This was due in part to the John Lewis Partnership's greater investment...

IGD Shopper Vista research reveals that 11% of British grocery shoppers are interested in purchasing vegan products, with this number increasingly to 22% amongst 25-34 year olds. We round-up the latest retailer initiatives serving shoppers with plant-based preferences. Iceland launches vegan labelling Following the recent expansion of its plant-based range , Iceland is the latest super...

The John Lewis Partnership's latest activities seek to focus shoppers' attention on what makes the business unique. New logos emphasise partnership model John Lewis and Waitrose have added "& Partners" to their names, a move designed to highlight the structure and culture that differentiates them from competitors. A handful of branches unveiled new logos today including John Lewis Oxford...

Iceland has become the first major UK supermarket to sell plastic-free, biodegradable chewing gum and Waitrose is set to launch compostable coffee pods. Iceland to launch plastic free chewing gum Iceland has become the first UK supermarket retailer to launch plastic-free chewing gum, claiming that 85% of UK shoppers don’t realise that ordinary chewing gum contains plastic. The launch ali...

A new role has been created, as well as remits changed ahead of Paul Walker's retirement according to reports from KamCity. 1. Commercial director for fresh foods, Paul Walker, to step down from his role Walker recently announced his plans to retire in 2019 after more than 30 years with the retailer. His role will change to director of fresh category trading until he leaves the business in ...

The John Lewis Partnership has announced three finalists for the first phase of its JLAB retail tech innovation programme, each with innovative ideas on the theme of health and wellbeing. Digital, customer-facing solutions A shortlist of 11 businesses were selected from 100 applicants in the first phase of this year's JLAB innovation programme. Following a pitch, three customer-facing, d...

Waitrose has launched a host of new products including sweet vegetable cheesecakes, wine in a can and packaging made of tomato plants. Tomato plant packaging: reducing plastic waste In an effort to reduce plastic waste, Waitrose has launched its non-plastic punnet made from tomato leaves. The packaging is created using latest technology that combines dried tomato leaf and recycled cardbo...