Waitrose
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| Waitrose Limited | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Partnership |
| Founded | 1904 |
| Headquarters |  Bracknell, England, UK |
| Key people | Mark Price, Managing Director; Tony Solomons, Director of Selling |
| Industry | Supermarket |
| Products | Food |
| Revenue | 3.7bn GBP (▲ 11% FY 2005/2006) |
| Owner | John Lewis Partnership |
| Employees | ~40,000 |
| Website | www.waitrose.com |
Waitrose is the supermarket division of the John Lewis Partnership, with 189 branches as of June 2008. Like the partnership's department stores, Waitrose is targeted at the middle class market, emphasising quality food and customer service rather than low prices. Their slogan: "Everyone deserves Waitrose" was chosen to show that everyone deserves their quality food. Waitrose's main competitors in this market are Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury's. It currently has a 4% share of the food market, and additionally a 16% and 10% share of the organic food and wet fish markets respectively.
Waitrose stores vary considerably in size. The smallest branch, Temple Fortune, occupies around 7,000 sq feet of retail space and the largest, Southend-on-Sea, over 56,000 sq feet. The average Waitrose occupies a retail space of around 18,000 sq feet.
The company has a Royal Warrant to supply groceries, wine and spirits to the Queen, and had a warrant to supply groceries to the Queen Mother.
Contents |
[edit] History
Waitrose was founded in 1904 by Wallace Waite, Arthur Rose and David Taylor, with Taylor leaving in 1906. They opened their first shop ("Waite, Rose and Taylor") at 263 Acton Hill, West London. In 1908, the name "Waitrose" (a portmanteau of the remaining founders' names) was adopted as the company was incorporated. The company (at the time with only 10 shops) was taken over by the John Lewis Partnership in 1937, with the then-160 employees becoming Partners (co-owners of the business). The chain's first supermarket opened in Streatham, London in 1955 - since then, the Waitrose chain has grown to include 189 supermarkets. In 1981 counter service was introduced for fresh meat, fish and cheese, and in 1983[1], Waitrose became the first major chain to sell organic food, a move since emulated by Tesco and Sainsbury's among others.
[edit] Growth
In recent years, the chain has seen a surge in expansion and profits, with a long term goal of having around 400 branches across the UK by 2017 and doubling revenue to £8bn. [2] In 2000, Waitrose purchased 11 stores from rival Somerfield, and 19 former Safeway stores were bought from Morrisons in 2004, in a project known as Toronto. In order to meet competition regulations when it acquired Safeway, Morrisons had to sell 52 of the Safeway stores, and the first batch of stores sold went to Waitrose.
In August 2005 Waitrose purchased a further five former Safeway stores from Morrison's. This took the firm as far north as Durham, fitting with its long term strategy to evolve into a national retailer. In December 2005, Waitrose also bought another store at Biggin Hill, Greater London, from Morrison's.
In March 2006, Waitrose announced the purchase of five additional branches. This was a significant landmark, as it meant that Waitrose opened two branches in Scotland (both in Edinburgh). The stores which were purchased were Comely Bank in Edinburgh, Morningside also in Edinburgh, Balham in South West London, Barbican in the City of London and Buxton in Derbyshire.
In July 2006, Waitrose announced it had purchased another six stores from Morrison's and also a former Safeway regional distribution centre in Aylesford, Kent[3] expanding Waitrose to 182 stores. The six stores which were rebranded into Waitrose are located at Hexham in Northumberland, Eastbourne in East Sussex, Formby in Merseyside, Parkstone in Poole, Dorset, Lymington in Hampshire and Portswood in Southampton, Hampshire. In total, Waitrose have purchased 31 stores from Morrison's and 16 from Somerfield.
In 2007 three new Waitrose branches opened, the first of which opened in Harborne in Birmingham. This was followed by Cheadle Hulme, Greater Manchester in July. There are also plans to extend and refurbish a number of branches. Waitrose hopes to double its revenue by 2016, by introducing much more aggressive price cuts[citation needed] and rapid expansion into the north of the UK. South Manchester, in particular, has been listed as an opportunity for Waitrose, with Didsbury cited as being the most likely area for it to be constructed[4]. In November 2007, another Waitrose branch in the South at College Town, Sandhurst, Berkshire, was opened, occupying store space formerly occupied by Safeway/Morrisons and also a newly built branch in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. March 2008 saw 3 branches purchased from Budgens, in Buckingham, Bayswater, in West London and Bourne, in Lincolnshire. However, the store in Bourne will not be converted into a Waitrose and will be sold on.
As of beginning of 2008, Waitrose has confirmed plans to open 9 new branches, at Ashford, Kent (on the site of the old TA barracks), Cardiff (Pentwyn), Chester, Crewkerne, Kenilworth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Stratford (Stratford City), White City (Westfield London) and Winchester. The group is currently seeking planning consent to open three further stores at East Cowes, Meanwood in Leeds and Wimborne Minster.
[edit] UK market share
According to TNS Worldpanel, Waitrose's share of the UK grocery market in 2007 was 4.0%, up 0.1% on 2006.
[edit] Overseas expansion
Waitrose has entered into a licencing agreement with Spinneys of Dubai, United Arab Emirates to open three purpose built branches by October 2008. Spinneys will convert 20 of their own stores to the Waitrose format by 2010.
[edit] Branches
Waitrose branches are mainly located in the south-east of England and in the London areas. The chain only has three branches in the south west of England, three in Wales, twelve branches in the north of England, and just two branches are located in Scotland (both in Edinburgh). In the countryside most Waitrose stores are located in towns with smaller populations rather than in towns with larger populations and also branches tend to be located in areas where there is affluence.
Branches are usually finished with white walls (in stark contrast to more colourful stores such as Sainsbury's). Much attention is paid to the lighting with halogen spots in key areas such as service counters, fruit and vegetables and wines. Section names on walls are in the same colour as the walls and raised out of them, and so defined by shadows (there is usually a large Waitrose logo on a far wall in the same fashion.) Instore noise is kept to a minimum, with no music or spoken promotions, although a public address system is used for staff callouts and irregular customer announcements. Cages (trolleys for holding large amounts of stock, usually around 6 ft high) are used on the shop floor, and Partners also use smaller, more navigable stock trolleys. New (or refitted) Waitrose stores usually have a customer service ("welcome") desk separate from a kiosk or checkout. Waitrose have recently changed the format of 2 stores in Central London to "Clearwater" branches, these involve at total refurbishement, new product lines as well as a streamlined assortment, Surbiton, Surrey will be the next branch to convert to the "Clearwater" format, later on this year.
For a full list of stores, see bottom of page.
[edit] Awards
[edit] 2007
- Best High Street Retailer for Customer Service (Which?) [5]
- UK's Favourite Retailer (Verdict Research) [6]
- Multiple Retailer of the Year (Re:Fresh) [7]
- Best Business Initiative (Re:Fresh) [8]
- Seafood Multiple Retailer of the Year (Seafood Awards) [9]
- Best Animal Welfare Practice (RSPCA) [10]
- Best Supermarket [for Wines] (Decanter World Wine Awards) [11]
[edit] 2006
- Multiple Retailer of the Year (Re:Fresh) [12]
[edit] Marketing and perception
The current Waitrose logo was designed by Monotype fonts and Interbrand,[13][14] and replaced an older logo (pictured right).
Advertising for Waitrose tends to emphasise the chain's uniqueness in comparison to other supermarkets, such as differences in production processes, higher quality products or the expertise of their staff. Recent marketing has also attempted to portray the chain as more ethical than other supermarkets, especially with regards to Fairtrade produce. It should be noted that until very recently the company has made almost no effort to publicise price cuts in the media in the manner of other supermarkets, preferring to advertise them in-store. In addition — outside Waitrose's traditional south of England heartland — it rarely advertises on television.
Waitrose has been voted Britain's favourite retailer, ahead of their sister company John Lewis,[15] who came second in the survey.[16] Similarly to John Lewis, the company has a 'Price Commitment' policy, in which it either matches, or betters, prices on over 350 everyday items, such as milk, bread and toothpaste[17]. In The Grocer's 33 list of common purchases compared against other supermarkets, only Somerfield are more expensive than Waitrose, which is in the region of 10 pence more expensive than the big four chains for each item.[citation needed]
Waitrose does not have an "economy" or "value" range. However, some branches stock lower priced lines not bearing the Waitrose name and below the corresponding Waitrose-branded product.
It has been noted by various food writers (as reported on Radio 4's "Food Programme"), that Waitrose is the only supermarket that will illustrate the animal from which the meat product in the pack has come from; for example a pig illustrated on a pack of sausages.
In 2007 all Waitrose branches were decorated for the festive season for the first time. This included window decorations, hanging signs, Christmas aprons for shopfloor partners and real Christmas trees in branches.
[edit] Goods and services
Waitrose is known for offering services such as the WaitroseEntertaining (formerly 'By Invitation') range of products, which are foods made to order for special occasions. Waitrose also offers a range of other services including home delivery, free glass loan and fish kettle service. Waitrose is particularly noted for its wine and beverage selection, and regularly wins awards at The International Wine and Spirit Competition and from publications such as Wine Magazine. Waitrose also has an Internet Service Provider offering, which was recently rated 'Best ISP Provider' in a 'Which' survey. It supplies both dial-up and broadband Internet connections from which all profits are donated to charity. Another long term fixture is Waitrose Food Illustrated, an in-store food magazine (free to Partnership/Account card holders and Partners). On 2 October 2006, a new free magazine, Source, was launched to complement John Lewis' new Greenbee direct services business.
Most branches have one or two specialists, in wines, meat, fish and cheese to advise customers. They are given training and attend specialist courses, as well as visiting suppliers, to get hands-on experience.
Waitrose sells a large number of own brand goods, but unlike other supermarkets such as Tesco (which stocks a wide variety of own brand clothing, cookware etc) these are mainly food and household cleaning products. Some stores stock a selection of John Lewis-branded goods.
Partners, on request, will carry any amount of shopping to a customer's car for free (this service is predominantly used by elderly or disabled people, who can find it difficult to push a trolley to their car. However, it is also used by people who purchase an unusually large amount of shopping, and therefore need help pushing a second trolley). Partners will also unload shopping to a customer's car if asked.
In some branches the company offers Quick Check, which allows customers to scan goods while they shop using a handheld scanner (Model: Symbol PSS) and then pay quickly at a special desk. This service was originally open only to holders of an Account Card (John Lewis' former charge card, since discontinued) or the Partnership Card (a credit card which allows customers to earn John Lewis/Waitrose vouchers), but recently some branches have been opened up to people with a standard credit or debit card. The possibility of theft is lessened by the random checking ("rescanning") of customers' shopping.
Some British supermarkets offer direct services such as home and travel insurance. Waitrose does not offer these services as the company dominates on food and drink, however the John Lewis Partnership has recently launched a new division, Greenbee, whose services are promoted in Waitrose branches. These services do not come under the Waitrose brand and cannot be bought in branches.
[edit] Good Employment practices
As part of the John Lewis Partnership, all of Waitrose's employees are Partners, co-owners of the business. As such, they receive certain benefits, most notably the Partnership bonus, usually around 10–20% of a Partner's yearly salary in a lump sum paid in March (the highest bonus percentage in recent years has been 22%). The annual partnership bonus for 2008 was 20% which is the approximate equivalent of 10 weeks pay. In addition, after three months service Partners receive a yellow shopping card which entitles them to 12% discount in Waitrose and John Lewis Department Stores. After one year's service, Partners receive a red shopping card signifying they are entitled to higher rate discount (25%) on most goods in John Lewis, previously requiring 3 years' service. Due to lower margins, discount remains at 12% in Waitrose and on electrical goods in the department stores. In a recent decision, the result of John Lewis Direct moving into profitability, the same discounts apply online.
Main focuses of training for new Partners are health and safety, fresh food handling, fire safety and customer service. Partners are trained to drop whatever they are doing (within reason) upon request from a customer, and also to lead customers asking for the location of a product to the product, and handing it over. In 2005 the business introduced a 'Mystery Shopper' programme to score its branches on the service they provide. The mystery shopper grades the branch on its presentation and on the service the branch provides at its service counters, checkouts, wine department and shop floor. During 2008 Waitrose will be training its partners in its new programme 'fresh on service' which aims to lift core service standards and continue to make the business stand out from its competitors.
The current uniform for male non-management partners is a green shirt with green and grey patterned necktie and grey trousers and optional apron whereas for females the uniform is a heavily patterned blouse and a choice of grey skirt, trousers and optional apron or tabard. Section managers, Assistant Section Managers and Acting ASMs wear white shirts, grey trousers and can chose to wear green blazer style jackets. Senior branch management (branch manager and department manager) wear suits. Section managers trained as duty managers will wear suits whilst acting as the most senior manager in the branch. Waitrose will launch a new uniform for all partners in 2009, this is expected to be black consisting of a black shirt, trousers/skirt and apron for all partners. This will be similar to the John Lewis Oxford Street Food Hall uniform. It is expected that ties will be made optional.
The employee levels in selling branches are: non-management Partner, assistant section manager (ASM), section manager (SM), department manager (DM) and branch manager (BM). Above BMs are ten area managers known as Head of Retail Operations (HoROs), then the director of selling and finally at the top, the managing director, Mark Price. Price reports to the chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, Charlie Mayfield. Waitrose offer many different management courses, including the Retail Management Training Scheme (RMT) where school leavers train to become section managers within two years, continuing to become department managers three years later and a Graduate Scheme that sees people achieving department manager level within two years.
[edit] Online shopping
In January 2000 the online food retailer Ocado was launched. The company is 30% owned by the John Lewis Partnership and offers home delivery of Waitrose groceries, ordered through the Internet. The Ocado service is only available to certain areas of Britain. Ocado uses a central warehouse to service their deliveries.
Waitrose also operates its own delivery service, WaitroseDeliver, which is only available in selected stores. This also offers home delivery of Waitrose groceries ordered through the Internet but is serviced from the local branch. Some stores also offer a delivery service — customers complete the shopping instore and is delivered by Waitrose to their home at a convenient time.
The WaitroseDeliver platform also hosts the online ordering system for Waitrose's special order food and cakes service "WaitroseEntertaining" (can be accessed via www.waitrose.com/entertaining) which runs alongside the catalogue available in branch of the same name.
[edit] Charitable work
Waitrose's ISP donates all of its profits, less marketing and running costs, to charity. New users choose from a set of different charities to donate to[18] and donations are distributed proportionally.
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. After being the first supermarket in the country to sell loose Fairtrade bananas, most of Waitrose's vegetable varieties also include organic varieties.[19] In addition, 90% of the chain's roses are Fairtrade.[20]
All Waitrose branches are able to manage their own charitable donations and local decisions are made on which charities are to be supported.
[edit] Locations
Waitrose trades in the following locations:
[edit] Waitrose
Bedfordshire
Ampthill (2006), Leighton Buzzard (1973)
Berkshire
Caversham (1984), Maidenhead (?), Newbury (2004), Reading (1999), Sandhurst (2007, former Safeway), Sunningdale (1988), Thatcham (2000, former Somerfield), Twyford (2000), Windsor (1937; relocated 1979 and 2007), Wokingham (1970; relocated 1996), Woodley (1970; relocated 1983)
Bristol
Westbury Park (1973)
Buckinghamshire
Beaconsfield (1982), Buckingham (2008, former Budgens), Chesham (1969, relocated 1989), Marlow (1972; to close in 2009 following acquisition of lease by Sainsburys), Milton Keynes (1979)
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge (2000), Ely (1992), Huntingdon (1977), Peterborough (1982), St Ives (1990), St Neots (?)
Cheshire
Sandbach (2004, former Safeway), Wilmslow (2005, former Safeway)
Cornwall
Saltash (2000, former Somerfield)
Derbyshire
Buxton (2006, former Somerfield)
Devon
Okehampton (2000), Sidmouth (2000, former Somerfield)
Dorset
Christchurch (2007, former Co-op), Dorchester (?), Gillingham (1992), Parkstone (2006, former Safeway), Winton (1978)
County Durham
Durham (2005, former Safeway; re-locating to Newcastle upon Tyne city centre in summer 2008)
East Sussex
Brighton (1966), Crowborough (1974), Eastbourne (2006, former Safeway), Hailsham (2000, former Somerfield), Lewes (2005, former Safeway)
Essex
Billericay (1998), Buckhurst Hill (?), Saffron Walden (?)
Gloucestershire
Cirencester (1973, relocated ?), Stroud(?)
Greater Manchester
Cheadle Hulme (2007)
Hampshire
Andover (1970), Chandler's Ford (2002), Hythe (1975), Fleet (1968), Gosport (1973), Havant (1979), Lymington (1970; relocated 2006 to former Safeway), Petersfield (?), Ringwood (?), Romsey (1969; relocated 2003), Southampton (2000; relocated 2006 to former Safeway), Southsea (1979), Waterlooville (2000), Yateley (?)
Hertfordshire
Barnet (1962), Berkhamsted (1969), Bishop's Stortford (?), Harpenden (1984), Hertford (1981), Hitchin (2004, former Safeway), Rickmansworth (2007), St Albans (1977), Stevenage (1978), Welwyn Garden City (?)
Kent
Allington Park (1970), Beckenham (1994), Biggin Hill (2005, former Safeway), Bromley (1976), Bromley South (1996), Dartford (2004, former Safeway), Green Street Green (1978), Hythe (2000, former Somerfield), Longfield (?), Paddock Wood (2000, former Somerfield), Ramsgate (1977), Sevenoaks (1983), Tenterden (1992), Tonbridge (2002)
Leicestershire
Blaby (1970), Evington (1970)
Lincolnshire
Lincoln (2004, former Safeway)
London
Balham (2006, former Somerfield), Barbican (2006, former Somerfield), Bayswater (opened June 2008, former Budgens), Belgravia (2003), Bloomsbury (2006), Brent Cross (1976), Chelsea (1981), East Sheen (1973), Finchley (1994), Fulham (2004, former Safeway), Holloway (1991), Kensington (2004), Marylebone (1999), Mill Hill (2003), Putney (1995), St Katharine Docks (2005, former Safeway), South Kensington (1999), South Woodford (1999), Swiss Cottage (1981), Temple Fortune (1937), Wandsworth (2004), West Ealing (1989; relocated 2005), Whetstone (1969)
Merseyside
Formby (2006, former Safeway)
Middlesex
Enfield (1982), Harrow Weald (?), Northwood (1987), Ruislip (1984), South Harrow (1996), Twickenham (2000, former Somerfield)
Norfolk
Norwich (?, former Roys Store), Swaffham (2004, former Safeway), Wymondham (2000, former Somerfield)
Northamptonshire
Brackley (Opening 2008, former Co-op) Daventry (1974), Kingsthorpe (1973), Towcester (2004, former Safeway)
Northumberland
Hexham (2006, former Safeway)
Nottinghamshire
Newark-on-Trent (1997)
Oxfordshire
Abingdon (1995), Henley-on-Thames (1965; relocated 1994), Thame (?), Wallingford (1972; relocated 2005), Wantage (1974), Witney (1969)
Shropshire
Newport (2004, former Safeway)
Somerset
Bath (?), Portishead (2003),
Staffordshire
Lichfield (2005)
Suffolk
Bury St Edmunds (?), Newmarket (1977; relocated 2004), Sudbury (2000, former Somerfield)
Surrey
Banstead (1965; relocated 1990), Caterham (1982), Cobham (1982), Coulsdon (1971), Dorking (1961), Epsom (1983), Esher (1985), Farnham (2004, former Safeway), Frimley (2000, former Somerfield), Godalming (1969; relocated 1994), Goldsworth Park (1983), Guildford(????), Hersham (2005, former Safeway), Horley (1972; relocated 1999), Kingston upon Thames (1990), New Malden (?), Richmond upon Thames (?), Sanderstead (2004), Staines (2000), Surbiton (1999), West Byfleet (?), Weybridge (1973), Worcester Park (2000, former Somerfield)
Tyne & Wear
Newcastle upon Tyne (opening Summer 2008; relocation from Durham)
West Midlands
Four Oaks (1974), Hall Green (1971), Harborne (2007, former Somerfield), Stourbridge (1975), Wolverhampton (2004, former Safeway)
West Sussex
Burgess Hill (?), Chichester (1980, relocated 1992), East Grinstead (2005, former Safeway), Horsham (?), Worthing (2004, former Safeway)
Wiltshire
Marlborough (1977)
Worcestershire
Droitwich Spa (2005), Great Malvern (2000)
Yorkshire
Harrogate (2004, former Safeway), Otley (2004, former Safeway), Sheffield (2004, former Safeway), Willerby (2004, former Safeway)
Scotland
Comely Bank (2006, former Somerfield), Morningside (2006, former Somerfield)
Wales
Abergavenny (2004, former Safeway), Barry (2004, former Safeway), Cardiff (opening summer 2008), Monmouth (1995)
[edit] Waitrose Food & Home
Canary Wharf (2002), Cheltenham (2002), Rushden (2004, former Safeway), Salisbury (1997), Southend-on-Sea (1994)
[edit] John Lewis Foodhall from Waitrose
Oxford Street, John Lewis (2007)
[edit] Former locations
Birch Hill, Chelmsford, Chiswick, Cowplain, East Finchley, Gerrards Cross,Guildford, Hayes, Kenton, Kidderminster, Muswell Hill, Slough, Southport, Streatham, Tilehurst, Watford, Westbourne, Wimbledon
[edit] References
- ^ Waitrose - Organics
- ^ IGD Retail Analysis - Waitrose plans to double sales - April 2007[1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Tesco still has opportunity for growth. Retrieved on 2007-10-08.
- ^ Waitrose and John Lewis named top of the shops by Which?
- ^ Waitrose is UK's favourite shop
- ^ Re;Fresh Awards Winners 2007
- ^ Sainsbury's double winner at retail awards
- ^ [http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/7059/A_night_of_celebration_for_Seafood_Award_winners_.html A night of celebration for Seafood Award winners]
- ^ RSPCA Good Business Awards 2007
- ^ Decanter World Wine Awards gives Waitrose Top Accolade
- ^ Re:Fresh Awards Winners 2006
- ^ Monotype: Superb Design
- ^ Interbrand | Waitrose | Waitrose | Brand | Brands, Full Branding Services for Clients
- ^ Customer Services - More About Us - John Lewis
- ^ Waitrose is UK’s favourite shop | This is Money
- ^ The Waitrose difference - Our company - Waitrose.com
- ^ Raising money for charity - Internet access from Waitrose - Waitrose.com
- ^ Fairtrade - Origin of our food - Food - Waitrose.com
- ^ - Waitrose site, "Fairtrade Roses, a better deal for rose growers in the developing world
[edit] External links
- John Lewis Partnership
- Waitrose
- Waitrose Wines Direct
- Waitrose Internet
- WaitroseDeliver
- Ocado
- Food retail wars rend a London neighborhood Article from the International Herald Tribune about Waitrose
- Google Maps Overlay of Waitrose Store Locations
- Greenbee — Direct Services from the John Lewis Partnership
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