17 Facts About Waitrose

1.

Waitrose had a royal warrant to supply groceries, wine, and spirits to Queen Elizabeth II and, as of 1 January 2011, to King Charles III.

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2.

Waitrose sponsored Reading F C from 2008 to 2015, and the England cricket team for three years from 2013 to 2016.

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3.

In March 2010, Waitrose released a series of adverts, in print, online, and on national television, featuring celebrity chefs Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal.

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4.

In September 2009, Duchy Originals, the struggling organic food business started by Prince Charles was rescued by Waitrose, which agreed to an exclusive deal to stock the range, and to pay a small fee to his charity.

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5.

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.

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6.

Daily Telegraph 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".

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7.

In 2010, Waitrose began a price guarantee, matching prices of 1000 items with Tesco.

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8.

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.

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9.

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, Nottinghamshire.

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10.

However, the company's expansion northwards and into Scotland since the mid-2000s has changed this significantly: the most northerly Waitrose shop is located in Stirling, which opened in January 2013.

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11.

Waitrose opened its 300th shop in Helensburgh on the River Clyde on 23 October 2013.

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12.

Some Waitrose shops incorporate an in-house restaurant selling hot and cold food sourced in the main from the shop.

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13.

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.

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14.

In May 2009, Waitrose started a franchise deal with the motorway service station operator Welcome Break.

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15.

Waitrose became the first supermarket to abolish all delivery charges as of May 2009.

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16.

In October 2011, Waitrose opened a "Dotcom Fulfilment Centre" in Acton, West London, less than two miles from its original shop.

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17.

Waitrose closed four convenience shops and one supermarket in the UK in 2018.

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