Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Supermarket |
Founded | 1904 |
Founder | Wallace Waite Arthur Rose David Taylor |
Headquarters | , England |
Number of locations | 329 (April 2023) |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Products | Food |
Services | Supermarkets Online shopping |
Revenue | £7.7 billion (2024)[1] |
£1.1 billion (2024)[1] | |
Number of employees | 49,600 (2024)[1] |
Parent | John Lewis Partnership |
Website | waitrose |
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-owned business, which continues to operate the brand.[2] The company's head offices are in Bracknell, Berkshire.[3]
As of April 2023, Waitrose & Partners operates 329 shops across Great Britain and the Channel Islands, including 65 "little Waitrose" convenience shops.[4] They also export products to 52 countries and have locations in the Middle East.[5]
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 has noted that its prices are competitive with those of Tesco, a mid-market chain.[6][7][8] The company holds a royal warrant to supply groceries, wine, and spirits to King Charles III.[9][10]
Waitrose head office Waitrose Limited Doncastle Road Southern Industrial Area Bracknell Berkshire RG12 8YA