Waitrose moves into airport travel retail with Heathrow launch
Waitrose is entering the airport travel retail market through a wholesale partnership with Relay brand operator Lagardère Travel Retail.
The move will see Waitrose products stocked in four Relay stores in Heathrow Terminal 2.
Subscribe to TRBDue to open by the end of the year, three of the stores will be airside and one landside. Each will offer a range of Waitrose food-to-go products tailored to passengers, including the supermarket’s popular No.1 range.
The partnership is part of Waitrose’s broader strategy to expand through new channels, while continuing to invest in its own shops and online business.
Heathrow Terminal 2 serves around 20 million arriving and departing passengers a year.
Charlotte Di Cello, Waitrose chief commercial officer, said: “Launching at Heathrow marks our first move into airport retail and an important step in growing our brand by bringing our offer to more customers in high-traffic locations.
“In partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail and RELAY, our food-to-go offer will launch in four stores in Terminal 2 by the end of the year, building on the progress we’re already making in travel retail, alongside continued investment in our own shops and online offer.”
Nicholas Dunne, commercial director of Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland, said: “This partnership with Waitrose marks a significant step in our ambition to elevate the food-to-go experience within our blended Travel Essentials offer.
“The partnership demonstrates our ability to leverage our cross-business line expertise and partner with leading High Street brands to adapt their offer to the specific needs of travellers.”
Earlier this month, Waitrose announced that it was stepping up investment in its physical retail estate with plans for new stores, refurbishments in 30 locations, and an expansion of its partnership with Welcome Break.
