1. Waitrose & Partners Snapshot, February 2019
Retailer performance
Must see stores
2017
2018e
% Change
Turnover
(£m ex VAT)
6,354.7
6,446.9
1.5%
No. of stores
353
349
-1.1%
Sales area
(sq m)
570,123
566,708
-0.6%
Waitrose, Nine Elms, 1 New Union Square, London, N1C 4BZ
How Waitrose Nine Elms is catering to
a fast growing and wealthy residential
area
Waitrose, King’s Cross, 1 Wharf Road, London, N1C 4BZ
King’s Cross flagship pushes the boundaries of what a supermarket can offer, with a choice of foodservice and food-to-go options.
Little Waitrose, King’s Cross station, London, N1C 4AP
Waitrose’s first railway station store, designed to meet the needs of
‘transumers’.
See report
See report
See report
Source: IGD Datacentre
Strategic priorities for 2018/19
Your checklist to trade with Waitrose
Upgrading stores
Investment in store regeneration is ongoing: the retailer is one year in to its three plan during which most stores scheduled to receive attention
Upgrading capabilities
Upgrading stock management, ordering and replenishment systems to further improve availability
Investing in a new transport management system to plan and schedule deliveries more efficiencies
Rolling out multi-functional device to staff in stores
Increasing pace of innovation
Waitrose is due to open its new food innovation centre in Bracknell in June This will enhance its existing strength in product development and innovation. In 2017 Waitrose launched more than 2,500 new products
Focus on helping customers lead healthier lives continues
Customer service
New flexible working model is being embedded, after roll out in 2017.
This will increase Partner productivity and enhance in-store flexibility, ensuring that the right Partners, with the right skills, are available in the right place and at the right time
Financial commitment
The John Lewis Partnership is committed to maintaining its planned levels of investment into the future of its business, irrespective of market volatility and the pace of change in retail. In light of this, the Board plans to bolster the balance sheet by retaining a greater proportion of business profit.
How are you helping Waitrose further its desire to demonstrate leadership on quality and ethics?
What opportunities does Waitrose’s ambition to develop new and innovative private label products present to your business, particularly within its growing Waitrose 1 portfolio?
How are you supporting Waitrose’s growing focus on convenience across products, promotions and operations?
Are you adjusting your online strategy to take advantage of Waitrose’s drive to build online sales?
© IGD 2019
Follow us on

2. Waitrose & Partners Snapshot, February 2019
New marketing initiatives
See the full Waitrose profile on Retail Analysis
Read
Selected key executives
Latest developments
Rob Collins
Managing Director
Became MD on 4th April 2016
Ben Stimson
Retail Director
Stimson was previously director of retail operations north at Waitrose.
Ross Avery
Finance Director
Previously transformation director, Avery became finance director on 28th January 2019.
Rupert Thomas
Commercial Director
Appointed to role in January 2017, with previous responsibilities including store design & development. Joined Waitrose in 2003
Martin George
Customer Director
Joined the retailer from the Post Office in May 2017, replacing Rupert Thomas following his appointment as commercial director.
When?
What?
So what?
January 2019
Waitrose launches £1m Plan Plastic fund
Waitrose & Partners has joined with environmental charity Hubbub to launch this new initiative. Over one year the fund will provide grants totalling £1m to initiatives aimed at reducing plastic pollution now and in the future.
Waitrose senior management changes
Ross Avery becomes the new finance director, and operations director Dino Rocos will retire in May, to be replaced by Bérangère Michel.
Waitrose reports modest Christmas growth
Waitrose & Partners reported sales growth of +0.2% to £1.047bn, with like-for-like sales of 0.3% in the seven weeks to 5 January 2018.
November 2018
Waitrose’s 2018 Christmas Ad
Waitrose & Partners has unveiled six 30-seconds Christmas adverts, which celebrate the role of food at Christmas as part of the ‘Too Good to Wait’ campaign.
Waitrose welcomes the era of the mindful consumer
Waitrose & Partners' annual Food and Drink Report highlights key shopper trends from 2018 including The war on plastic, The New York Day, The new vegetarian revolution and Avoiding the food hangover
© IGD 2019
Source: IGD Research