Waitrose to treble size of online grocery business
The Waitrose supermarket chain has unveiled plans to treble the size of its online grocery business to £1 billion over the next three years.
Working in partnership with Today Development Partners, the retailer will be significantly increasing its capacity and automation as it looks to achieve what it describes as a rapid step change in its online and digital capabilities.
This will involve the two companies developing three new state-of-the-art automated customer fulfilment centres.
Rob Collins, managing director of Waitrose & Partners, said: “Waitrose.com is a popular and efficient home delivery service that is already growing strongly ahead of the market. The plans announced today represent a clear commitment to achieve rapid step-change in Waitrose.com’s capacity and capability as we build a modern, well-invested digital business that is fit for the future.
“The development of our new customer fulfilment centres will triple our delivery capacity, bringing our well-loved service and delicious food to more customers across the UK and setting Waitrose.com on the path to becoming a £1 billion turnover business.”
Waitrose’s online grocery service is currently provided through a combination of from-branch deliveries, and through its Coulsdon fulfilment centre which opened in 2015. It is also planning to have a second customer fulfilment centre to serve the North London area.
In addition, the retailer has announced that its retail director, Ben Stimson, will lead the growth and has been appointed as digital director with immediate effect. This will also include managing the relationship with Today Development Partners..
